A year after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, reconstruction has barely begun. Of the disaster that killed nearly 250,000 people, the survivors hoped to see emerge a new country, "refounded" and decentralized, with the 10 billion pledged by the international community. Twelve months later, the population is exhausted and no prospects.Almost a million are still homeless huddled under tents and tarpaulins in inhumane conditions. Only 5% of the rubble has been cleared, and the capital, Port-au-Prince, is a huge slum. The rapes have increased in the makeshift camps. 2010 will be remembered as the year of Haitians of all evils: the ravages of the earthquake have added a cholera epidemic which has killed over 3600 people, then the violence of an electoral crisis that no one sees the solution.
An expert mission of the Organization of American States has been dispatched. No date is set for the second round of presidential elections, when the mandate expires Rene Preval on Feb. 7. Local authorities, the international community and NGOs, ubiquitous and very transparent in managing their funds, passing the buck to explain the failures and delays.
Stunned by the disaster, unable to connect for several weeks, Mr. Preval is accused of failing to provide leadership in mobilizing his people or to expropriate the land required the relocation of disaster victims. But his administration has been decimated by the earthquake, and the Haitian State has received a fraction of the amounts mobilized by the international generosity.
Budgetary difficulties, announcement effects remained without result: donors have not kept their promises. Less than half of the 2.1 billion dollars pledged for 2010 has been disbursed. Established to coordinate international assistance, the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (HRIC) is the target of much criticism.
Co-chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister of Haiti, Jean-Max Bellerive, the HRIC has been slow to develop. Its action has been hampered by "political priorities and often contradictory," according to Oxfam. The image of the United Nations has been seriously tarnished by the allegations against the peacekeepers, who are suspected of having cholera brought on the island.
After considerable delay, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed an independent commission to shed light on the origin of the epidemic. The international community is also accused of having led the organization of elections when the conditions were clearly not satisfied, on the pretext that there was no Plan B.
But post-election crisis may cause further convulsions. And the absence of legitimate authority could serve as a pretext to delay the promised money. See page 4 interview with the writer Lyonel Trouillot Article published in the edition of 09.01.11
- Haiti reconstruction at 'standstill,' says Oxfam report (06/01/2011)
- Haiti reconstruction at 'standstill,' says Oxfam report (06/01/2011)
- Crossover Dreams: To the International Community on the One-Year Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake: Just Leave Us Alone! (08/01/2011)
- Relief agency slams Haiti quake recovery "quagmire" - Reuters (05/01/2011)
- 'Journey through hell' (07/01/2011)
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