ARTICLE - WATER AND SANITATION - CAP-HAITIEN

WATER AND SANITATION IN CAP-HAITIEN
(HaitiLibre.com) -

The National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DINEPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with UN-HABITAT and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), celebrated this Tuesday, March 22, at the Karibe Convention Center in Petionville, World Water Day with the theme "Results achieved in terms of access to water and sanitation since January 12, 2010 and perspectives for 2011".

Sybille Piquion, Coordinator General of the DINEPA, declared herself satisfied with the work done by DINEPA in the field of water and sanitation, thanks to the support from its partners and ensured by the efforts of the Haitian government, in regard to the achievement of its objective, make drinking water accessible to the public. She acknowledged, however, despite the many projects of water supply throughout the country, that much remains to be done so that the population has access to drinking water.

In Brussels, within the framework of World Water Day, Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development, announced the launch of an innovative financial mechanism of an amount of $50 million, to finance projects for access to water and sanitation services in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific.

The European Commission provides financial support to the initiatives of the civil society in Haiti, as part of an project to strengthen the sector of water and sanitation in Cap-Haitien. This project (contribution of the Commission: nearly $4 million), will increase the flow of water in the city of Cap Haitien and provide drinking water and sanitation services to the poorest people, while improving the institutional capacity of the water sector.

The Cap-Haitien (population +/- 500,000) do not have adequate services of drinkable water and sanitation, which has a major impact on public health and the quality of life of the population.

In addition, the project will allow among other things: the rehabilitation of a gravity system that will provide drinking water to 3,000 people, a new pumping station with a capacity of production of 35 l/sec will be installed, as well as a new water network to serve more than 100,000 people.

In terms of sanitation: 42 public toilets will be built for residents of poor neighborhoods. Four micro-enterprises will be established for the collection of waste of about 3,500 families.

Finally, the project will develop a strategic plan for the sector of water and sanitation in the city.