Haiti - international aid

Countries across the world pledge millions towards aid

Article published on the 2010-01-14 Latest update 2010-01-15 11:42 TU

Members of the Humanitarian and Rescue Brigade of the Army of Nicaragua board two aircrafts to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Managua

US President Barack Obama has offered Haiti 100 million dollars in immediate earthquake aid to Haiti. International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has announced that the fund will provide the same amount, while Australia has pledged nine million dollars.

“To the people of Haiti, we say clearly and with conviction, you will not be forsaken, you will not be forgotten.” Obama said on Thursday before offering “every element of our national capacity, our diplomacy and development assistance, the power of our military and most importantly, the compassion of our country”.

US secretary of State, Hillary Clinton cut short a trip to Asia and returned to Washington to help co-ordinate US aid efforts. Up to 3,500 US troops and 2,200 marines will be sent to help survivors of the devastating earthquake.

The IMF money is to come from an extension of an existing loan to Haiti. The loan extension requires executive board approval which he promised would be given “very rapidly and in co-ordination with other agencies."

The World Bank has also pledged 100 million of interest-free emergency aid, subject to board approval.

Australia has promised nine million dollars of aid and more if needed. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said half of this would be available immediately to buy medicine, food and shelter while the rest would be used to rebuild the country.

Thursday saw a planeload of Chinese soldiers start a flow of aid to the Caribbean nation with 20 tones of relief supplies. 

Two French firefighter units also arrived with six sniffer dogs. Argentina Chile and Peru have all sent aid including food, water, medical and rescue teams. Field hospitals have also been sent to tend to the  injured in Port-au-Prince.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for an international conference on reconstruction.

“I proposed to President [Barack] Obama that the United States, Brazil Canada take the initiative to organise a major international conference ... to rebuild the country,” Sakozy said, before announcing that two navy ships were on their way to Haiti.

Former Haitian premier Claudette Werleigh, who now lives in Europe has welcomed the international response while warning that a medical epidemic could follow. 

She also warned against political aspects taking over aid.

“Even if the government is weak it is important that […] nothing is done without the help of the people of the country, without the government, because that’s the only way for people with the government to learn to be able to respond [to any future crises]," she said.