UN Appeals for $98 Million to Fund Agriculture, Good Governance in Post-Election Haiti
New York, Dec 18 2006 4:00PM
The United Nations today appealed for $98 million to help Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with
basic services, political governance and economic recovery, as the Government works to bring stability following this
year’s elections.
The appeal, launched in Geneva with Jean Max Bellerive, Haiti’s Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, will also
help authorities better cope with natural disasters, such as hurricanes and the flooding that hit last month and caused
severe damage to agriculture.
The appeal aims to reinforce the Government’s capacity to meet needs for humanitarian and development assistance and to
improve governance, the UN said in a press release.
“The appeal also aims to reduce vulnerability among the population and to ensure that authorities are better prepared in
the event of natural disasters,” said Joel Boutroue, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for the UN
Stabilization Mission for Haiti (MINUSTAH).
As well as being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, Haiti – with a population of 8.4 million – ranks 153 out
of 177 countries worldwide according to the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) social indicators. More than half of all
Haitians live below the extreme poverty line of $1 per day, while nearly three quarters – more than 6.2 million people –
live below the poverty line of $2 per day.
Male life expectancy is only 52 years, and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Haiti also has
the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the area: 4 to 5 per cent of the population is infected with HIV.
The projects in the appeal focus on political governance, economic recovery and access to basic services. The largest
appealing organization is the UNDP, followed by the World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organization/Pan American
Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In a separate press release, the FAO said its share of the overall appeal – amounting to around $14 million – would
allow the agency to continue its work in improving agriculture and disaster management.
“Our activities will continue in five major areas: distribution of seeds, tools and fertilizers; vegetable production in
urban areas; animal vaccination; rehabilitation of small infrastructure such as water tanks, irrigation systems, and
weirs; riverbank protection; and disaster management and mitigation, including soil protection and seed stocks,” said
FAO expert Fernanda Guerrieri.
ENDS