By Juliette Cruz
The destructiveness of the 2010 earthquake that hit the country killed over three hundred thousand and demolished a substantial part of Port-au-Prince. The U. S. And other donors promised to rebuild the country. Their planned hope was to cast away its history of dependence on foreign assistance. Once relief efforts petered out, the work was slowed down. Haiti reconstruction efforts according to its critics have not amounted to much.
The United States government has spent 1.3 billion on rescue to save countless lives. But it was when after three months the goalpost shifted to establishing a new foundation complications were revealed. A 1.8 billion package for reconstruction has been pledged. Yet with the second anniversary observers say progress has been mixed.
There have been clear improvements as evidenced by the removal of fifty percent of remaining rubble. Damaged residences have seen repairs and more than a million have been relocated from temporary housing in tents. However, the U. N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates approximately three hundred and seventy thousand are still in such housing.
A water or sewer system still needs to be built in the capital, as the country deals with the biggest cholera outbreak in the globe traced to a U. N. Peacekeeping unit from Nepal after the earthquake. Fixing the electricity system is still a work in process. In the meantime, the capital is supplied with electricity for just 10 hours a day. About 18 million has been spent so far on electricity, mostly to build a power plant for an industrial park in the north in Caracol. The largest program for employment so far is a clothing manufacturing plant being built there.
Fifty percent of the 1.8 billion pledged amount remains in the United States. It has been realized the quake underscored the Haitian dysfunctionality. In September of 2012 the Haitian Prime Minister indicated a new era with his announcement of a reconstruction commission to replace the defunct interim body established in the earthquakes wake.
Officers of World Bank have stated it has collected three hundred and ninety six million dollars. Of that amount, two hundred and seventy four million were and allocated for 17 identified for projects. Following the termination of the interim body, progress has stalled since October 2011. No more projects have been selected and presented for approval. One hundred and twenty million remained by September 2012 from a total set amount of five hundred and fifty one million. No matter how funds get used, what will be the outcome that can be seen years hence. The funds spent preceding the quake are not a hopeful sign.
On another subject, there is good news to report. Drillings have uncovered silver, gold and copper in the mountains in the northeast. Estimated the value of gold deposits is twenty billion. The full bounty, which the Dominican Republic shares, has potential value of forty billion. Mining it is expected to start in five years time.
This would be a welcome source of revenue where an annual budget is one billion USD. Since over fifty percent of this amount is from foreign sources, the boost would be a great boon. This treasure of mineral is a hopeful sign for ten million Haitians, of who most do not have daily earnings exceeding 1.25 USD. They deserve a government that manages Haiti reconstruction aid wisely.
The United States government has spent 1.3 billion on rescue to save countless lives. But it was when after three months the goalpost shifted to establishing a new foundation complications were revealed. A 1.8 billion package for reconstruction has been pledged. Yet with the second anniversary observers say progress has been mixed.
There have been clear improvements as evidenced by the removal of fifty percent of remaining rubble. Damaged residences have seen repairs and more than a million have been relocated from temporary housing in tents. However, the U. N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates approximately three hundred and seventy thousand are still in such housing.
A water or sewer system still needs to be built in the capital, as the country deals with the biggest cholera outbreak in the globe traced to a U. N. Peacekeeping unit from Nepal after the earthquake. Fixing the electricity system is still a work in process. In the meantime, the capital is supplied with electricity for just 10 hours a day. About 18 million has been spent so far on electricity, mostly to build a power plant for an industrial park in the north in Caracol. The largest program for employment so far is a clothing manufacturing plant being built there.
Fifty percent of the 1.8 billion pledged amount remains in the United States. It has been realized the quake underscored the Haitian dysfunctionality. In September of 2012 the Haitian Prime Minister indicated a new era with his announcement of a reconstruction commission to replace the defunct interim body established in the earthquakes wake.
Officers of World Bank have stated it has collected three hundred and ninety six million dollars. Of that amount, two hundred and seventy four million were and allocated for 17 identified for projects. Following the termination of the interim body, progress has stalled since October 2011. No more projects have been selected and presented for approval. One hundred and twenty million remained by September 2012 from a total set amount of five hundred and fifty one million. No matter how funds get used, what will be the outcome that can be seen years hence. The funds spent preceding the quake are not a hopeful sign.
On another subject, there is good news to report. Drillings have uncovered silver, gold and copper in the mountains in the northeast. Estimated the value of gold deposits is twenty billion. The full bounty, which the Dominican Republic shares, has potential value of forty billion. Mining it is expected to start in five years time.
This would be a welcome source of revenue where an annual budget is one billion USD. Since over fifty percent of this amount is from foreign sources, the boost would be a great boon. This treasure of mineral is a hopeful sign for ten million Haitians, of who most do not have daily earnings exceeding 1.25 USD. They deserve a government that manages Haiti reconstruction aid wisely.
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