Brussels, 14/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Thousands are feared dead in Haiti as the Union takes part in the massive international solidarity effort to come to the assistance of the island devastated by the earthquake on Tuesday (EUROPE 10055). The European Union is already thinking beyond the emergency towards reconstruction of the island. Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for European Union external policy announced on Thursday 14 January that a special development ministers' meeting would be held for the EU on Monday 17 January in Brussels. This will focus exclusively on the coordination of efforts deployed by the different European countries and try and increase short term and long term assistance. So far, €3 million in initial emergency aid has been released by the Commission, and eleven European countries have provided teams or material assistance (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands have mobilised 2 million in humanitarian aid).
Baroness Ashton stated that, “the thoughts of people all over Europe are with the victims of this terrible tragedy and with their families. I know that the scenes of devastation and suffering we have seen have moved us all. I for one am determined to do everything I can to translate that emotion that we all feel into action… We are now putting all the different elements together that are at our disposal: Humanitarian relief, civil protection, but also other instruments that as satellite images provided by our Global Monitoring System (GMES) that are important for the coordination of the UN efforts on the ground…It is important to tell the people of Haiti that we stand ready to help them as much as we can in this tragedy. They can count on Europe”.
Humanitarian aid for Haiti amounts to €28 million for 2010 but the High Representative considers the needs to be covered after this tragedy will be far greater. “We need far greater aid in the long term”, she said.
Convened by the Spanish EU Presidency, the extraordinary meeting of the Development Council was called at the request of Baroness Ashton, who, moreover, is in close contact with Commissioners Karel De Gucht (development and humanitarian aid) and Stavros Dimas (environment/civil protection) to ensure the best possible coordination of the European response to the disaster.
Ms Ashton contacted Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, on Thursday to express her condolences to the organisation at the loss of its members and to offer immediate EU support. She also spoke with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, saying that coordination with international partners is now crucial. It is in this spirit that, at Ms Clinton's invitation, Ms Ashton will go to Washington next week. In response to the press, which asked her if she planned to go to Haiti in the near future, Ms Ashton said the time was not right, adding that she planned to go to that region at the right time in order to be of the best possible use. Among the European citizens affected by the tragedy, a national from the EU delegation in Port au Prince is still missing. The Commission is working with France and Spain so that all European citizens still in Haiti may return home. The High Representative said they would ensure that these persons are able to leave Haiti. Aircraft are waiting to leave, she explained, but there is only one runway. (A.N./transl.jl)