Fifty-nine countries pledged aid for Haiti during a conference held at the UN today to help the country rebuild itself after the devastating January earthquake. The aid from these nations, as well as other international organizations, adds up to nearly $5.3 billion over the next two years, and totals upwards of $9.9 billion for three years. The U.S. has pledged $1.6 billion in aid funds on top of the $900 million already provided.
The European Union also agreed to provide $1.6 billion in aid to Haiti. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement released by the UN Department of Public Information that the situation in Haiti required “a ten-year plan” to ensure economic recovery and sustainability. Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, praised the aid package and added that Haiti needed a good balance to be observed between relief and transition to rehabilitation and development for at least a year.
But according to the New York Times article, some are skeptical that the aid funds will actually be delivered. Haitian officials, who asked for pledges amounting to $3.2 billion dollars as part of plan described on this blog on Wednesday, are concerned that the record on earthquake-related aid showed pledges that never translated into delivery. Donor states tried to reassure the Haitian delegation about their commitments, saying the magnitude of the disaster sets these pledges apart from past commitments.
As the aid is delivered from donors, the money is supposed to be funneled into a multinational fund supervised by the , and then distributed through projects agreed to by an interim reconstruction commission consisting of Haitians and the largest donors.
Former President and the Haitian prime minister, Jean-Max Bellerive, are to lead that reconstruction commission.
Aid experts say that the money is still desperately needed, particularly in regards to shelter – especially since Haiti’s hurricane season is fast-approaching…
Posted by Sara Chupein.
