Just last year, at 16 h 53 local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti. In one minute, the earthquake had turned the capital Port-au-Prince and its surroundings in a field of ruins. Figures summarize some of this terrible disaster: 222,570 dead, 300,000 injured, more than 2.3 million people displaced over 390 000 buildings destroyed, including 180,000 houses, and the presidential palace, the Senate, the national assembly and virtually all departments, damage estimated at more than $ 8 billion.This earthquake was by far the deadliest natural disaster in 2010. But the small Caribbean island, the poorest country of America, also faced an epidemic "brutal and massive" cholera has claimed more than 3,600 dead, Hurricane Tomas and a crisis policy which led to an outbreak of violence and paralysis of the electoral process.
To honor the victims, the Haitian authorities have decreed that January 12th will be a "national day of remembrance and contemplation." The flags will be lowered, what remains of government and schools will be closed and a memorial will be erected near the ruins of the presidential palace.
This somber anniversary provides an opportunity for many NGOs in the field to take stock of their actions. Many stress that everyday life for many Haitians is appalling and that the road reconstruction will be extremely long. A situation as much due to the accumulation of natural disasters as dysfunctions of formal structures, whether local or international.
Currently 800 000 people, including over 300,000 children still live in the ruins of Port-au-Prince and in 1150 built precarious camps around the capital and the south of the island. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that construction of new homes has reached more than 200,000 victims in recent months.
A positive trend, however, mitigate the need: only 5% of 20 million m3 of debris were evacuated so far and the UN estimates that 650,000 people will always be affected in late 2011. Pointing the finger, the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (HRIC). This body, chaired by former U.S.
President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister of Haiti, Jean-Max Bellerive, is supposed to coordinate the distribution of international aid and reconstruction streamline operations. "So far, the commission has not lived up to its mandate," noted Roland Van Hauwermeiren, head of Oxfam in Haiti.
He particularly deplores the lack of coordination between donors and the Haitian government, which "had the effect of seriously weakening the government's ability to plan and deliver on its commitments." One example among others: "Most donors have provided funds for transitional housing but very little money to clear debris or repair homes.
However, without prior clearance, "the construction of houses on a large scale can not start," says Van Hauwermeiren. The arrival of the funds pledged by the international community is also problematic. Over 2.1 billion due in 2010, only 882 000 dollars were used (42%). The international community pledged 5.3 billion dollars for the years 2010 and 2011, and the amount should climb to 10 billion by 2012.
An "extraordinary generosity", as admitted by Medecins du Monde, which has not always been successful. Action against Hunger, another NGO working on site, involves the absence of "strategic vision" of the Haitian government that forces "to maintain emergency operations unsustainable and extremely costly in the goal of providing an answer minimum.
The UN has said that the reconstruction of Haiti "will be the top priority for 2011," while reiterating that the process should take "months if not years." This telescoping of natural disasters - Hurricane Tomas has also hit the southern island in November - has disrupted relief operations and reconstruction, each compounding the effects of disaster follows.
"The outbreak occurred before the passage of Tomas, told the World. FrViolaine Dory, the Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development [CCFD]. But with the hurricane, but accelerated." Worse, this epidemic has created a rift between the foreign staff and the public, who accused them of importing the disease, so much so that a center of MSF was stoned by protesters in late October in the north of Port- au-Prince.
A confidential report conducted by Professor Renaud Piarroux revealed and disseminated (PDF) by Le Monde, came to confirm this hypothesis. He says the deadly bacteria causing the outbreak came from the camp of the Nepalese soldiers UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Gregory Bulit, the NGO Solidarity International, explained to Le Monde.
en he was then "an amalgam between Minutsah and NGOs." "People think that whites have made cholera. There is a malaise vis-à-vis other countries. Thus it is difficult is to sensitize the population to accept the fact that a cholera treatment center does not import the disease but help prevent it, "he confided.
"We did what we had done," assured Stefano Zannini, head of mission for MSF in Haiti, about the attitude of his NGO just after the earthquake. In his eyes, he is now "time to implement long-term efforts and other actors involved," including the government of President Rene Preval. But the Haitian political class does not seem to afford only to take control of the situation.
She has spent the last few months tear each other, exacerbating the disruption in the country. The European Union called "deeply concerned by the political situation" on the island, saying "the current instability prevents the EU humanitarian aid to reach people in need and slows and complicates the process reconstruction.
" Brussels, first donor for Haiti, has pledged 1.2 billion euros. After the first round of presidential elections on 28 November, the island was the scene of violent protests. Supporters of Michel Martelly, candidate came third behind Mirlande Manigat (31%) and Jude Celestin (22%), disputed these preliminary results that eliminated their candidate.
The leading candidates have talked of massive fraud in favor of Jude Celestin, dolphin President Rene Preval. Several weeks of uncertainty and sporadic violence followed, raising fears the worst. Former President Boniface Alexandre has not hesitated to evoke the possibility of "civil war".
While the second round opponent and Celestine Mirlande Manigat be held January 16, the Organization of American States (OAS) has just released a report calling for the withdrawal of the first to benefit from Michel Martelly. President Preval has refused to comment on the paper, adding that under these conditions there "could" leave office Feb.
7, when it was theoretically leave his post. Luke Vinogradoff
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