ARTICLE - WORLD BANK - SUPPORTING HAITI

WORLD BANK FLASH: SUPPORTING HAITI TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE
(ReliefWeb) - Source: The World Bank Group

Background
The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 was one of the deadliest natural disasters on record. Over 230,000 people perished, 300,000 more were wounded, and well over a million displaced. Housing, infrastructure, public buildings and businesses all sustained considerable damage. Damages and losses were evaluated at $7.9 billion, or around 120 percent of GDP. On March 31, 2010, donors pledged $5.3 billion in support of the Government Action Plan for Reconstruction and National Development for the coming two years. To date, $1.2 billion has been disbursed for program support. On October 21, 2010, an outbreak of cholera was confirmed in Haiti, the latest UN data indicates that about 149,000 cases have been reported and more than 3,000 people have died. Presidential elections, held on November 28, 2010, resulted in a political stalemate. A runoff with the two leading candidates was originally scheduled for early January but has been postponed, pending a review of first round results by the National Electoral Commission, with the support of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Haiti before the quake
In the wake of this immense and ongoing crisis, Haiti's greatest challenge is to seize the opportunity of reconstruction and to build back better. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with more than half of all Haitians living on less than $1 a day. The country has the highest rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality in the area. An estimated 30 percent of children suffer from chronic malnutrition. Decades of instability have contributed to the high poverty rate, low school enrolment and general lack of services. Haiti is one of the world's most disaster prone countries and vulnerable to devastation from tropical storms and cyclones.

How we are helping
In March 2010, the World Bank Group (WBG) pledged $479 million in support for the next 24 months. Two thirds of this - $340 million - has already been allocated. The World Bank has disbursed $128 million or $11 million per month for:

· Emergency aid (food supplements, school feeding, canal clearing, hurricane shelter).

· Budget support to help the government close its 2009-2010 fiscal gap.

· Reconstruction of transport infrastructure, government facilities, and rural water systems, the management of debris, and priority community investments.

· Long term investments to improve education, agriculture, electricity, and the private sector.

In addition, the Bank is also the trustee of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF), a multi-donor trust fund that so far has raised $267 million, of which $193 million has been allocated.

Selected results of WBG support to Haiti:

Assessed structural state of 400,000 buildings in Port au Prince, crucial to reconstruction planning.

Removed 100,000 cubic meters of trash and debris from key drainage canals in Port-au-Prince, reducing flood risk to camps in the capital.

Provided 50,000 solar lanterns to families, increasing safety and reducing fire hazard.

Provided food supplements to 200,000 children under two and health care services to pregnant and lactating women and infants in collaboration with the World Food Program and the Pan-American Health Organization.

Funded 180,000 children to attend school and gave 80,000 school children a daily hot meal.

Completed six water supply systems, benefiting 37,000 people in rural communities.

· Through the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the WBG, supported the creation of 5,000 new jobs as well as safeguarding 5,000 existing jobs.

In early 2011, with newly approved resources from the International Development Association – the Bank's fund for the poorest- and from the Haiti Reconstruction Fund, the World Bank will launch a $15 million Emergency Cholera Project and a $95 million Neighborhood Upgrading and Housing Reconstruction Program.

In light of the challenges and the multitude of actors present in Haiti, the World Bank Group systematically works through the Government of Haiti and the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, and other institutions including UN Agencies, the Inter-American Development Bank, Brazil, Canada, France, Norway, the United States, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the European Union.

Contact:
In Washington: Melanie Zipperer, mzipperer@worldbank.org
For Broadcast Requests: Stevan Jackson, sjackson@worldbank.org,