Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power visits Haiti to witness the impact of Ireland’s contribution to the recovery operation

Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power TD today (Jul 5) begins a two-day visit to Haiti to assess the impact of Ireland’s assistance to the country, almost six months after the devastating earthquake struck on January 12.

During his visit Minister Power will visit four programmes funded by Irish Aid, the Government’s programme for overseas development; hold security and humanitarian briefings with the United Nations and World Bank and meet representatives from Irish aid agencies and members of Irish Aid’s Rapid Response Corps.

Ireland has pledged €13 million in funding over three years to support the Haitian plan to recover and rebuild the devastated country. More than €4 million in emergency funding and humanitarian supplies has already been disbursed to organisations including Concern, Goal, Trocaire and World Vision.

Speaking ahead of his visit today, Minister Power said:

"I am keen to see first-hand the life-saving impact of the funding and supplies which the Irish Government provided to the people of Haiti.

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

“We also provided almost €3 million in direct emergency funding to UN agencies and Irish NGOs including Concern, World Vision, Plan Ireland and Goal.

“Over the next two days, I will be visiting the projects run by Concern, Goal and World Vision which have been funded by Irish Aid. These projects are making a real contribution to the priorities identified by the Government in the wake of the earthquake: shelter and sanitation and the urgent protection of the most vulnerable: women, children, the elderly and disabled,” Minister Power said.

Among the programmes Minister Power will visit are:

• 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.

“The scale of the challenge is enormous: the damage resulting from the earthquake is estimated at $7.9 billion – more than Haiti’s entire economic output last year.

“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,” Minister Power said.

Notes to the editor
• Minister Power will spend July 5and 6, 2010 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• Ireland’s pledge of €13 million will be disbursed over three years. It will support the Haitian Government’s plan for reconstruction, which draws on the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment carried out by the UN, EU, World Bank and others in consultation with civil society, NGOs and the private sector.
• Almost €1 million will go towards cancellation of Haiti’s debt to the World Bank. The debt cancellation will be implemented via a new dedicated debt relief trust fund set up at the World Bank’s Development Association.
• The pledge of €13 million includes the €4 million already provided to Haiti. This is made up of almost €3 million in direct emergency funding to UN agencies and Irish NGOs including Concern, Haven, World Vision, Plan Ireland and Goal. It also includes two consignments of 130 tonnes of emergency supplies of shelter and sanitation equipment which were distributed by Concern, Goal and Trocaire on the ground.
• Ireland contributed €20 million to the United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in 2009 and a total of €73 million since it was set up in 2006 following the Asian Tsunami. The CERF provides immediately-accessible funds to the UN for use in a crisis such as that in Haiti. Ireland is the seventh largest donor to this fund. This funding was drawn upon in the wake of the Haitian earthquake.
•Five members of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps remain on the ground in Haiti. Four others have returned home, having completed their deployment.

ENDS+++
5 July 2010