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New York (Agenzia Fides) – United Nations member states and international partners pledged $5.3 billion for the next 18 months to begin Haiti’s path to long-term recovery from the January 12 earthquake. Over 150 countries and international organizations gathered March 31 at UN headquarters in New York in support of the people and Government of Haiti.
“Today it has been demonstrated that the international community will continue to support Haiti in the long-term and we will meet the needs,” said René Préval, President of Haiti. “Small and large countries contributed, demonstrating that Haiti is not on its own. Thank you. The international community did their part, and now the Haitian people will do their share. The recovery process must continue, preparing the ground for long-term development and investments.”
During the conference, the Government of Haiti presented the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti, a roadmap that outlines their priorities for short and long-term reconstruction, and donors committed to align their assistance to that Plan. .
“The leaders of Haiti must take responsibility for their country’s reconstruction,” said Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, pledging $1.15 billion for Haiti’s long-term reconstruction. “And we in the global community must also do things differently. It will be tempting to fall back on old habits – to work around the government rather than to work with them as partners, or to fund a scattered array of well-meaning projects rather than making the deeper, long-term investments that Haiti needs now.”
“Today, we have mobilized to give Haiti and its people what they need most: hope for a new future,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “We have mobilized to give Haiti and its people what they need most: hope for a new future. We have made a good start, we need now to deliver.” (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 08/04/2010)
