Statement by Mr David Windsor, Counsellor (Political), Australian Mission to the United Nations, regarding Humanitarian Appeal for Haiti, as delivered 24 February 2010.
(as delivered)
Mr Under-Secretary-General,
Over a month has now passed since the catastrophic earthquake hit Haiti. While the tragic consequences of the earthquake and the needs of the people of Haiti are still being assessed, what is clear is the enormity of the task ahead in providing continued emergency relief and the job of reconstruction. Despite the enormity of the challenges, what is also clear is the overwhelming and tireless response of the Government and people of Haiti, the UN and international community, and NGOs to confront this tragedy and meet the country’s immediate and long term needs.
Australia would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our condolences to the people of Haiti for the great losses that they have suffered. We assure them that Australians stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them, working with neighbouring countries of the Caribbean and the wider international community in the task of rebuilding Haiti.
Australia highly values the role of the United Nations in coordinating the humanitarian response in Haiti. In support of a Haitian Government led-recovery, we will continue to work with the UN and the international community to respond to critical needs. Australia also values the important role of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in partnering with UN agencies and delivering humanitarian assistance. The expertise, dedication and ability to deliver that NGOs bring to the international response is critical in supporting the people of Haiti.
For Australia’s part, within days of the earthquake we provided A$10 million in emergency relief through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) – part of CARICOM. We also provided support through six Australian Non-Government Organisations with proven experience in providing emergency on-the-ground assistance in Haiti.
Australia’s support of CARICOM, both in relation to Haiti, and more broadly, recognises the critical role regional organisations play in responding to natural disasters in their region and reflects Australia’s enhanced engagement with the Caribbean.
Australia has also committed A$5 million to support early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Haiti. We can announce today we have provided A$2.5 million of these funds to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Cash for Work program. We recognise cash for work is an important step in supporting early recovery in Haiti, as it provides immediate employment for thousands of Haitians, a critical injection of cash into the local economy and helps local businesses get back on their feet sooner.
Australia also recognises that logistics are a critical component of humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. Working with partners in the international community, Australia sent five air traffic controllers from our Defence Department to augment the United States’ effort to provide synchronised and effective flows of humanitarian aid at Haiti’s main airport in Port-au-Prince. Similarly, Australia has also deployed four specialists to support the United Nations efforts in Haiti – information management experts to UNOCHA and UNICEF, and two logisticians to WFP, and two more Australians will shortly be deployed to Haiti to provide information and communications technology support to WFP.
I would like to also mention the generosity of the broader Australian public, who, in addition to the Australian Government support I have outlined today, have also donated over A$21 million to support relief and reconstruction efforts in Haiti. It is a telling example of the breadth and depth of Australia’s shared grief for the people of Haiti and our commitment to supporting them through this tragedy.
Mr Under –Secretary-General,
Australia is ready to play its part in meeting the reconstruction needs in Haiti and is committed to ensuring that our further assistance aligns with Haiti’s longer-term development needs. We look to the Haitian-Government led Post Disaster Needs Assessment to guide us in meeting the enormity of the recovery and reconstruction process that lies ahead.
Food security needs in Haiti have been exacerbated due to the disaster. Australia, as part of our assistance to reconstruction efforts will explore options, in cooperation with other neighbouring countries in the region, to improve the food security of the people of Haiti.
A disaster of the scale of Haiti also reminds us of the importance of limiting the impacts of future disasters. Australia values the work of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and welcomes their role in the PDNA to ensure Haiti is “built-back better”.
We recognise the social and economic challenges facing Haiti following the earthquake. It is imperative that we, the international community, work together as seamlessly and effectively as possible to support the Haitian Government to rebuild their country. Australia welcomes the United Nations’ role in facilitating this.
Thank you.