Members of the international community are at the United Nations Wednesday, committing serious financial assistance to Haiti for its long term reconstruction. Donors' offered millions of dollars to all sectors in a bid to help Haiti "build back better" after its devastating January earthquake.
Haiti's reconstruction is estimated to need 10 years and $11.5 billion. But Wednesday's conference aimed to meet reconstruction costs for just the first 18 months.
The Haitian government is going to be in the lead on this, and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive outlined his country's blueprint for a national action plan to guide the reconstruction to the 140 members of the international community who participated in the pledging conference.
He said funds are needed for every part of Haiti's infrastructure, to create jobs, and to put the country on the path to sustainable development.
"We need about $4 billion in the next 18 months to achieve the critical mass that is necessary to achieve the momentum to make the difference that we talked about together. We need to innovate. Favorable conditions are there and we must succeed," said the Haitian prime minister.
Countries lined up to help, with conference co-chair, the United States, leading the way. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said if Haiti creates strong, transparent and accountable institutions it can become a engine for progress and prosperity.
"To that end, the United States pledges $1.15 billion for Haiti's long-term recovery and reconstruction, which will go toward supporting the government of Haiti's plan to strengthen agriculture, energy, health, and security and governance," she said.
Also announcing their contributions early in the conference were the European Union, pledging over $1.6 billion, Brazil, offering $172 million, France giving $27 million, and Spain pledging $465 million.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, one of the co-chairs of the meeting, said reconstruction assistance must be well-invested and well-coordinated. He added that it must work in parallel with the continuing humanitarian assistance effort, and urged donors to further fund a U.N. appeal for $1.4 billion that is only half met. That money is to meet emergency needs - such as water, food, shelter and sanitation - for this year.
By the end of the day, the U.N. expects pledges of nearly $4 billion to be committed to Haiti.
No comments:
Post a Comment