Above: debris-clearing in Haiti (UN Photo)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
While Haiti has seen improvements, aid coordination in the country remains a challenge, and the inability of Haiti’s political leaders to form a government has presented a challenge, according to a report by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group in Haiti.
“The progress made in clearing and reconstruction work in Port-au-Prince and neighbouring towns is visible and shows that Haitian society is mobilised and that the aid provided by the international community has been useful,” the 12-member group said in its report.
The EOSOC cited several accomplishments in the country, including successes in debris removal, resettlement of displaced persons and the fight against cholera.
But the political stalemate in the Haitian government was “significantly” delaying implementation of its priorities, according to Nigel Fisher, deputy special representative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in Haiti.
“The inability of political actors to find a rapid solution to this stalemate is having detrimental consequences on international assistance, on Haiti’s prospects for development, and most importantly, on its people,” said Ambassador Keith Morrill of Canada, who led the group.