Haiti earthquake could spark model for international development

By Mitch Vandenborn, International News Services

As the international community converges on Haiti, many are fearful that the small Caribbean country will become another victim of promised international aid that falters amongst bickering and petty squabbles between donor countries and agencies.

But, in truth, this disaster could serve as a model for international aid done right, with large scale cooperation and organisation that not only relieves the immediate suffering of the Haitian people, but reestablishes the shattered remains of their infrastructure and society.

The European Union (EU) council on foreign affairs has already issued a statement asking for a “EU-wide response to post-emergency rehabilitation and recovery.”

The council also insisted on the need for an assessment on the “long-term development needs of Haiti, which makes full use of all resources, expertise and funding available from EU and Member States.”

The United States has committed a large amount of resources to the recovery effort, and they too realize that this is not a quick-fix situation.

“This is a long-term commitment and if we are to realize the meaning of community, we must all prepare to do what is necessary to help Haiti recover and rebuild,” said United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, Ester Brimmer.

As a part of the recovery process, the international community is thus far trying to ensure that the people of Haiti and its shattered government play an active part in the efforts. By doing so, the hope is to encourage a self-sufficiency that will continue and prosper long after the last United Nations aid ships sail away.

“Haitians should be the main actors in the recovery process,” said Eric Overvest, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country director in Haiti.

The commitment to this is being seen in the first phase of the UNDP’s cash-for-work programme that will employ nearly 400 Haitians in aiding the recovery of their country.

Once the programme becomes fully operational, it is expected to employ as many as 220,000 people.

With the fires of disaster still burning in parts of the country, and bodies still being pulled from the rubble, the long-term restructuring of Haiti may rightly be at the back of people’s minds.

But as the country moves forward, the relief efforts will be looked at in the context of history as an example of international cooperation that works on both a practical and theoretical level.