€4m funds for Haiti relief effort sent to aid groups

MORE than €4 million of the €13m in funding promised to Haiti over the next three years has been distributed to aid organisations to help rebuild the devastated country.

Overseas Development Minister Peter Power embarked on a two-day visit to the country, almost six months after the earthquake which destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure.

During his visit Mr Power visited four programmes funded by Irish Aid, held security and humanitarian briefings with the UN and World Bank and met representatives from Irish aid agencies as well as members of Irish Aid’s rapid response corps. Ireland has pledged €13m in funding over the next three years to support Haiti’s recovery and help rebuild the devastated country.

More than €4m in emergency funding and humanitarian supplies has already been distributed to organisations including Concern, Goal, Trócaire and World Vision. Concern Worldwide has raised over €30m in response to the disaster in Haiti. Of that a staggering €8.7m has been received from the Irish public.

Speaking about his visit, Mr Power said he was keen to see the impact Irish aid was having in Haiti.

“The Government moved swiftly following the earthquake to airlift 130 tonnes of emergency humanitarian supplies, which were distributed by Concern, Goal and Trócaire on the ground. These provided desperately needed shelter and sanitation equipment to 12,000 vulnerable families,” he said.

The scale of the crisis facing Haiti as a result of the earthquake is enormous. The damage resulting from the earthquake is estimated at $7.9 billion (€6.3bn), more than Haiti’s entire economic output last year. Among the programmes visited by the overseas development minister include:

* World Vision’s programme to provide child-friendly spaces, where unaccompanied children are identified, registered and offered psychological support. The spaces assist children in recovering from the trauma they have suffered. Irish Aid has provided funding of €200,000.

* A programme run by Concern to provide clean water and sanitation to families who were made homeless by the disaster. Vulnerable locals are employed to assist in this effort, thus earning an income and contributing to their self-sufficiency. Irish Aid has contributed €700,000 to this project.

* A Goal-run cash-for-work programme which provides income to Haitians who assist in the recovery effort by clearing rubble and other waste. Irish Aid has provided €500,000 to this project.

“Over the next three years, the Government will support the Haitian government’s action plan which is strongly focused on rebuilding the country’s shattered infrastructure; strengthening security, justice and planning systems; reducing the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters; and providing health, education and housing. Stimulating economic growth will also be a priority to support the Haitian people in rebuilding their lives,” said Mr Power.