Above: flooding during Hurricane Sandy (UN Photo/Logan Abassi)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti’s government and the country’s international humanitarian partners have launched the Humanitarian Action Plan for 2013, which seeks to meet critical humanitarian needs for the country.

The plan has identified a core of critical areas, including growing food insecurity concerns, the persistence of cholera in the country and the continued situation of those displaced by Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. (The latter was estimated to number 360,000 people, according to a recent report by the International Organization for Migration.)

“Our country has made a remarkable recovery from the 2010 tragedy — thanks to the strength and commitment of our people and the support of humanitarian partners, more than 77 percent of IDPs have left the camps and have started to lead a normal life,” said Rose-Ann Auguste, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of human rights and the fight against poverty. “We also managed to stop the spread of cholera and minimize its impact on the lives of the population.”

Almost two million Haitians are currently facing food insecurity, and the resurgence of cholera in Haiti could affect up to 118,000 people in 2013.

“We call on humanitarian partners to continue their support to Haiti and its people,” said Nigel Fisher, humanitarian coordinator in Haiti. “A premature disengagement in terms of funding for humanitarian action in Haiti in 2013 would jeopardize the results achieved such as emergency response mechanisms already in place and exacerbate the current crisis.”

According to the UN, the HAP 2013 will provide a “minimum package of activities” to meet the priorities. The world body has been seeking $144 million to implement the programme, with the funding gap between humanitarian needs and donor support continuing to grow.

In 2012, “only 42 percent of the most urgent needs of funds have been taken into account,” the UN said in a statement.

“Haiti is continuing its path towards sustainability,” Auguste said. “However, we recognize that millions of the most vulnerable people, including women and children face critical vital needs. We must address these needs.”