As UN Calls for Haiti Aid, Many Champion Local Groups Over Red Cross (Full article)
“As Haiti begins to recover from Hurricane Matthew, one of the worst storms to hit the Caribbean nation in decades, concerns are growing over public health risks and the ways in which foreign aid may interfere with relief efforts. Read More
Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Statement on Hurricane Matthew’s Impact in the US & Haiti
Oakland, California – In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement urging the global community to unite to provide humanitarian aid for Haiti:
“My thoughts are with the people of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina impacted by the Hurricane Matthew. Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jasmine Huggins, Church World Service (202) 481-6942 | Charissa Zehr, Mennonite Central Committee (202) 544-6564
Faith Leaders Urge Obama Administration to take a leadership role in eliminating cholera in Haiti
Tuesday, October 11, Washington, D.C. – As cholera cases spike in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, more than 60 faith-based organizations and religious groups sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary Kerry, urging them to exercise leadership at the United Nations (UN) to ensure that concrete steps are taken to eliminate the cholera epidemic introduced to Haiti in 2010 by UN peacekeepers. Read More
During these past few days, I have had the unique opportunity to engage groups in the Diaspora community, the media, officials in Haiti and the international community in a rather different approach toward providing disaster relief in Haiti. It is the principle that relief and recovery efforts should be led by Haiti. Read More
Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald reports:
“For days, Haiti’s health ministry has insisted that it had pre-positioned aqua tablets and oral rehydration serum around the country to fight the scourge of cholera, an acute disease that can kill within hours if untreated. Read More
Based on years of organizational experience that many HAWG members have in disaster response and recovery, they share best practices from lessons learned on the ground. We hope that all organizations responding in Haiti will share in these practices:
1. Support local community collaborations and initiatives. Haitian community networks mobilized to relocate, shelter and protect Matthew victims. Read More
Please join us in telling the Obama Administration that there is still time to make a significant impact on cholera in Haiti before the end of his term! The State Department can build momentum at the UN and take a strong stand for cholera victims and their families, cholera treatment, and long-term water and sanitation investment in Haiti. Read More
Last week, Representative Frederica Wilson issued a statement in response to the New York Times article that announced the UN’s acknowledgement of its role in Haiti’s cholera outbreak.
In her press release, Congresswoman Wilson stated,
Read More“Today’s announcement is a major first step in righting a wrong. While I welcome the UN’s assumption of responsibility for the cholera outbreak in Haiti, it must be followed with concrete actions that include making cholera victims and their families whole, and investments towards eradicating the epidemic.”
The Haiti Advocacy Working Group welcomes the recent UN statement that acknowledges their role in the cholera outbreak that has caused so much illness and death since the mismanagement of wastewater from the UN base in the Artibonite region of Haiti. For 6 years, members of the HAWG have been working to address the cholera epidemic at many levels – in the health sector, in water and sanitation infrastructure funding, and seeking a claims mechanism for victims. Read More
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. This report, submitted on behalf of the Institute for the Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), AIDS-Free World, the Environmental Justice Initiative for Haiti (EJIH), the Haitian-American Leadership Council (HALEC) and the Haitian Diaspora for Democracy and Development (HD3), discusses violations of human rights in Haiti related to the ongoing cholera epidemic. Read More