Brussels, 12/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 12 January, one year after the earthquake in Haiti (EUROPE 10291) the European Parliament once again expressed its solidarity with the victims and called on the international community to continue its financial assistance to help this devastated country recover. The European Parliament also underlined that organising free elections was crucial to the country's stability and successful reconstruction.
On Wednesday, Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European Parliament, affirmed: “Today's situation in Haiti stays critical. Streets and houses are still in shatters and the efforts of the international community have not yet achieved their goals. At times, the circumstances on the ground are even worsening”. He also said: “I was truly shocked when I read the recent reports on sanitary conditions in the camps and on outrageous crimes against women and children”. He is aware that political problems are compounded with the other difficulties and warned “the basic needs remain urgent, but a long-term solution will not come without fair elections, political stability and economic development. Only legitimate, democratic and functioning institutions can ensure reconstruction and restore hope to the people”. Buzek asserted that the European Parliament is monitoring the situation constantly and is attempting to learn the lessons from the Haiti case. He said that he was convinced that “our funding efforts should not loosen today, despite of the difficulties to absorb the international aid effectively”.
Michèle Striffler (EPP, France), the permanent rapporteur for humanitarian aid from the European Parliament, denounced the paralysis in the reconstruction process. She said that this failure arose from structural shortcomings in the Haitian state, as well as the lack of political will and decisions from the Haitian authorities, in addition to the lack of follow-up by the international community. She regretted that the interim committee for the reconstruction of Haiti had begun work late and expressed concern about the organisation's effectiveness in confronting such a huge task. The MEP pointed out that “virtually no funds have been ear-marked for clearing the rubble. At the current pace we will need six years to clear 20 million cubic metres of rubble - a crucial stage for the reconstruction”.
According to Striffler: “The European Union must do everything in its power to strongly support a legitimate and transparent electoral process to guarantee the stability and political will which the reconstruction needs. It is imperative that the international community and the European Union support the future Haitian authorities in the organisation of their institutions, towards a new balance at all levels, towards a fully functioning democracy and throughout the reconstruction process”. The European Parliament will debate the situation in Haiti on 18 January in Strasbourg. (A.N./transl.fl)