Discussion forum European Parliament

Discussion forum- “Haiti: one year after” - Tuesday, 18 January 2011, European Parliament, Strasbourg

Michèle Striffler, Honorable Member of the European Parliament (EPP, FR) 1st Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Development Committee and Permanent Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid and the Red Cross/EU Office held a discussion forum on 18 January 2011 regarding the progress in Haiti one year on.One year after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the international community is facing some hard truths: reconstruction in Haiti is not progressing as quickly and efficiently as everyone would like; Haitians most of all. What is the EU doing? How are the billions donated to international organisations being used? What are the next steps?

The European Union has been an unwavering supporter and generous donor to Haiti pledging €1.2 billion and delivering €331.9 million to date. The European Commission pledged €522 million over the coming years and disbursed €74 million in 2010. EU commitment to all aspects of Haiti’s short, medium and long term reconstruction is clear. The humanitarian community was represented at this discussion forum by the French Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), UN OCHA, and Coordination Europe-Haiti.

The humanitarian community has been tireless in its efforts in Haiti and while undeniable progress has been made and countless lives saved, outside observers continue to bemoan the slow rate of progress. No one can deny the enormity of the challenges in recovery and reconstruction in Haiti. A disaster of this magnitude occurring in such a poor, densely populated, urban context is rare and carries unique challenges. Progress has been made but much more remains to be done. The humanitarian community and ordinary Haitians depend on the political will on the part of the Haitian government and the international community, including the European Union, to build a stronger and more resilient Haiti.

The discussion forum began with opening remarks from Michèle Striffler, 1st Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Development Committee and Permanent Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid. Speakers included Antoine Peigney, International Relations and Operations Director of the French Red Cross, Pablo Medina, Operations Coordinator, at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Niels Scott, Chief, Humanitarian Coordination Support Section, External Relations and Resource Mobilisation Branch, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Claudette Werleigh (Pax Christi) and Georges Werleigh (ITECA, Port Au Prince) on behalf of Coordination Europe-Haiti.