Six months after the earthquake in Haiti

Successful assistance for a new beginning, promises must be kept    

© Dillmann(09.07.2010) Six months after the Haiti earthquake, Welthungerhilfe is taking stock of successful work done in this region to date. "We have not only helped the victims of this catastrophe to survive, but have also created an important foundation for a new beginning in this country. Thousands of Haitians are receiving an income while helping to remove the debris left by the earthquake, and are able to feed their families. In rural regions, the construction of important infrastructure measures such as irrigation systems, cleaning of canals and improvements to road into remote regions is underway. We have shown those affected by this tragedy that we will not leave them to fend for themselves, and we are also offering long-term support", says Wolfgang Jamann, Secretary General for Welthungerhilfe.

With regard to long-term aid for Haiti, Welthungerhilfe relies on close cooperation with local partner organisations and local officials, in order to strengthen the self-help potential within the country. "We must consistently integrate Haitian agencies in the renewal process. It is the only way to initiate projects that offer long-term benefits", emphasises Jamann. Each new Welthungerhilfe project is presented to the towns and accompanied by local agencies. 

At the same time, Welthungerhilfe is also asking the international community to stand by the commitments it made at the international donor conference in New York in March of this year. Reservations with regard to the Haitian government cannot lead to a situation where urgently needed assistance funds are not paid out. "We have to keep the promises we made to the victims of this catastrophe. Otherwise people will think that these cheques were only made out for the benefit of television cameras", says Jamann, who is critical of the hesitant follow-through on committed aid funds. To date, only a fraction of the committed USD 10 billion has been made available.

Welthungerhilfe is also asking the Haitian government to clarify the land ownership situation as soon as possible. At this time, the locations at which transition settlements for evacuees are to be built have still not been clearly determined. The same applies to rural areas, where investments are hindered by the fact that land titles have not been clarified by government agencies.


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