Brussels, 10/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 10 January in Port-au-Prince, on the eve of the second anniversary of the earthquake that struck Haiti, the European Commission launched a new €23 million programme for the repair and rebuilding of safe housing for some 60,000 displaced persons. The programme will be implemented in cooperation with the local communities, the municipalities and the Haitian Ministry for Public Works. It is a part of the European Commission's action to help the country recover from the disaster, which was made worse by Hurricane Thomas and the worst cholera epidemic that the country has known for a century. The situation is slowly improving but remains fragile, and the Commission will continue to work with Haitian authorities to facilitate the smoothest possible transition from emergency aid to reconstruction and the country's long term economic development.
In a statement published on Tuesday, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, pays tribute to the Haitian people for the bravery and determination that they have shown in getting their country back on its feet. “I am pleased that the most acute humanitarian problems have been tackled but I am fully aware that difficult reconstruction challenges remain. I hope that the establishment of the new administration under President Martelly and Prime Minister Conille will mark the beginning of a period of political stability and economic growth. This is essential for the success of the reconstruction process. We will continue to work with our Haitian friends, with EU member states and our international partners to improve infrastructure, assist the economic recovery, and support improved governance and the consolidation of Haitian democracy and state institutions”, she states. Andris Piebalgs, Development Commissioner, gives his assurance that the reconstruction of Haiti is and will remain a priority. He will be in Haiti during the year, in particular to inaugurate a training centre and the main road section now repaired. He went on to say that they will also continue to actively support the work done by the state to provide working social, education and health services for the Haitian population and to put the country back on track towards economic development. Kristalina Georgieva, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner, points out that Europe was on the spot within 24 hours of the earthquake, and will remain present for as long as the population continues to need its assistance. Today, she said, half a million Haitians still live in camps and the cholera epidemic is still raging. She also confirmed the Commission's resolve to assist local communities by enhancing their resilience to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and landslides. (AN/transl.jl)