ARTICLE - UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING

MEMBER STATES URGED TO PREVENT HAITI'S ELECTORAL PROCESS DISTRACTING FROM EARTHQUAKE-RECOVERY EFFORTS
(ReliefWeb) - Source: United Nations Security Council
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Security Council6471st Meeting (AM)

Better Coordination of Aid Stressed As Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Chiefs Brief Security Council

Member States must work with all parties in Haiti to help steer the electoral process towards a credible outcome, amid widespread accusations of fraud, so that it did not distract from earthquake-recovery efforts, Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations told the Security Council today.

"It is of paramount importance that the current political crisis is brought to a swift conclusion so that the Government and people of Haiti can focus on the challenges of reconstruction and recovery," Mr. Le Roy said, recalling that accusations of "massive fraud" had been levelled following the 7 December announcement of results from the first round of Haiti's presidential election, engendering demonstrations.

Briefing the Council on developments in the impoverished island nation devastated by a massive earthquake on 12 January 2010 and a subsequent cholera epidemic, he welcomed President René Préval's invitation to the Organization of American States (OAS) to send an expert mission to assess the first-round results. Now the Provisional Electoral Council must honour its commitment to take fully into account the recommendations contained in that mission's report, with a view to ensuring that the election results truly reflected the will of the Haitian people.

"Should the [Provisional Electoral Council] decide otherwise, Haiti may well be faced with a constitutions crisis," he warned.

Mr. le Roy said the overall security situation remained calm, despite sporadic violence related to political tensions and the ever-present risk of further unrest. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) continued to work closely with the Haitian National Police to maintain public order and protect the civilian population as well as key installations, he said, noting also the arrival in Port-au-Prince of Jean-Claude Duvalier, a former President of Haiti.

Also briefing the Council, Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, reviewed the past year, noting that a great deal had been accomplished considering the earthquake's devastating impact and the country's pre-existing difficulties. Since last January, 1.5 million people had been provided with shelter, 800,000 of whom remained in camps, and at least 5 litres of drinking water per person had been delivered to 1.2 million people daily. She also described efforts in the sanitation, nutrition and education fields.

She said national and international efforts had pushed down the cholera fatality rate from a peak of 9 per cent to 2 per cent. However, a massive infection rate persisted, she said, cautioning that continuing combating it required stability. "If aid supplies and aid workers cannot move around freely, or if sick people cannot reach help in time, the fatality rate will quickly rise again. There is still an urgent need for massive mobilization activities to promote prevention and early treatment."

Intensive efforts must continue at least through 2011 to stave off cholera, malnutrition and other severe problems, Ms. Amos said, adding that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had launched a $906 million humanitarian appeal. "Accelerating recovery efforts must be the absolute priority for 2011," she added. However, it was important to be realistic, she cautioned, pledging that humanitarian agencies were prepared to stand by the poorest Haitians for as long as necessary.

Following the briefings, Haiti's representative thanked all those involved in providing aid following the saddest moment in his country's history. The worldwide response would never be forgotten, even if not all donors had fully delivered on their pledges. Noting the magnitude of the remaining challenges, he said: "There is so much to be done that sometimes one gets the impression that nothing has been done." He called on the international community to help realize the vision of a better Haiti through its continued support and patience.

Members of the Security Council then took the floor, seconding Mr. Le Roy's call for the implementation of the OAS mission's recommendations and stressing the importance of a credible outcome of the second-round presidential election, and of the need for all parties to exercise calm and restraint. Most speakers noted the range of challenges facing Haiti, before and after the earthquake and cholera outbreak, as they also welcomed the magnitude of the international response, with many describing their respective countries' contributions.

With most speakers urging that donors fulfil their pledges to Haiti in a timely manner, some emphasized the need to sustain assistance for the long term, while others underlined the importance of national ownership in the recovery. Better coordination of the aid effort and greater efforts against sexual violence were also stressed.

Speakers praised the work of MINUSTAH, with some commenting on its future role. India's representative, for one, cautioned that the Mission should not become involved in the political crisis, which was better addressed by the relevant regional organizations. The representative of the United States expressed concern over the return of former President Duvalier, but noted the Government seemed to be taking steps to deal with the situation.

Also speaking this morning were the representatives of Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Colombia, Lebanon, Portugal, Russian Federation, Gabon, Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, China and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting began at 11:12 a.m. and ended at 12:50 p.m.

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