Haïti

Haiti: A Once in a Century Chance for Change

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Beyond reconstruction: re-envisioning Haiti with equity, fairness, and opportunity
Date of publication: 
March 2010

Before the devastating earthquake of January 2010, Haiti was showing signs of dynamism. However, the pre-existing extreme levels of poverty and inequality exacerbated the devastation. Haiti’s reconstruction, if badly managed, will perpetuate the country’s inequality, benefiting the rich and creating new risk for the poor. If well managed, it really could help to build a better Haiti.

The goal of reconstruction now must be a genuinely more equitable Haiti, in which poverty and instability are reduced. The way to achieve that is through reconstruction led by Haiti’s government and other institutions, genuinely accountable to all Haitians. The international community, including the donors meeting in New York on 31 March to discuss Haiti’s reconstruction, must commit now to support that effort in the arduous years that lie ahead.

Oxfam’s 32 years of experience in Haiti, 60 years of experience in disasters, and discussions with its long-term partners in Haiti, suggest that the reconstruction effort needs to meet three vital conditions.

  • Haiti’s government and other Haitian institutions must lead the reconstruction.
  • As they do so, they must be genuinely accountable to all Haitians, including civil society.
  • Every Haitian must be given the information they need to make informed decisions on their future.

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Jacob contributes to rebuilding Haiti

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Cristelle Basmaji (Director, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for JACOB) presents a cheque for $112,000 to Oxfam-Québec, represented here by Marquis Giguère (Director, Fundraising and Michel Verret (Acting Director General).

JACOB has made up 10,000 t-shirts for sale in 120 JACOB and JACOB Connection stores across the country, with 100 % of the proceeds going to finance Oxfam-Québec reconstruction projects in Haiti.

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Haitians say jobs key to recovery

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Oxfam surveys Haitians ahead of crucial New York conference on Haiti – 31 March

As Ministers, delegates and aid organizations meet in New York this week to discuss the reconstruction effort for Haiti following the devastating earthquake on 12 January, the people of Haiti say they want jobs to be their path toward rebuilding. In a survey of over 1700 people carried out by an independent Haitian polling consultant and funded by international agency Oxfam, Haitians’ most pressing needs are jobs (26 per cent), schools (22 per cent) and homes (10 per cent).

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Survey shows few Haitians are willing to move far to camps outside the city

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Camp residents have little official information about plans to re-site camps

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Less than a third of people living in one of the largest camps in Port-au-Prince say that they are willing to move to camps sited outside the city according to a snap-shot survey carried out by international agency Oxfam. If the new improved camps are established close to where they used to live then the proportion willing to move leaps to nearly three quarters.

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G7 must take on emergency recovery plan for Haiti, global economic crisis

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G7 finance ministers meeting in Canada this weekend must agree to a Financial Transaction Tax to leverage billions needed to help poor nations deal with the impact of the global economic crisis, international agency Oxfam International said today. 

The G7 ministers and central bankers who are meeting in Iqaluit must also ensure that devastated Haiti is not left saddled with crippling debts as it recovers from the recent earthquake.

Oxfam is asking G7 finance ministers to:

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Cancel Haiti’s debt and ensure poor areas don’t miss out on reconstruction, Oxfam urges foreign ministers

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Foreign ministers meeting in Montreal on Monday should agree to cancel Haiti’s outstanding $890 million international debt in the wake of the devastating earthquake, international agency Oxfam said today.

Reconstructing Haiti

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Date of publication: 
January 2010

Summary of recommendations:

  • All actors should ensure that the people of Haiti have a central role in the process of reconstruction and that reconstruction is equitable.
  • Those delivering assistance on the ground should immediately work to coordinate within the UN established system and with the Haitian government
  • The UN and the US government are trying to ensure that there is adequate fuel to support the relief effort. Fuel supply will remain a concern for humanitarian agencies in the near term. In consultation with NGOs, the UN should establish a system to determine who receives fuel, for what purposes and in what priority.
  • The Haitian government, UN and international military actors must work together to improve the security situation, pre-empting a potential deterioration of the situation, with increased patrols, transparency in operations and clear conjoined rules of engagement and chain of command.
  • Protection, particularly for women and children, should be mainstreamed into the design of all programmes, including any camps for affected people or expansion of patrols, in consultation with affected people and local civil society.
  • The government, UN, donors and other actors must ensure that efforts to restore and improve public services, infrastructure and economic activity prioritise poorer communities. In a socially divided society such as Haiti, there is a real danger that the better off and politically influential will secure their needs first.
  • It is not too early to lay a new foundation for Haiti’s reconstruction and development with complete debt forgiveness, aid in the form of grants not loans and a “propoor” approach that prioritises livelihoods and sustainable development led by Haitians from the start.

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Haïti update

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Despite yesterday’s powerful aftershock, the members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION continue to make progress on the ground. Aid operations are taking place on an ongoing basis and reaching thousands of Haitians.

 Today’s updates from the HUMANITARIAN COALITION include:

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Magnitude 6.1 aftershock

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A powerful aftershock rocked Haiti this morning, reducing more buildings to rubble. The members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION reported that their relief operations are continuing while aid workers on the ground prepare for increased numbers seeking help as emotionally distraught Haitians regroup for the upcoming night.

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Government grants to our members

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Recognizing the tremendous efforts of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION on the ground in Haiti, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Government of Québec will contribute $5.6 million dollars to coalition members.

CARE Canada will receive:

  • $1.5 million dollars from CIDA

Oxfam-Québec – whose efforts are also supported by Oxfam Canada – will receive:

  • $1.0 million dollars from the Government of Québec
  • $1.0 million dollars from CIDA

Save the Children will receive:

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