Haiti has made remarkable progress to recover from the multiple shocks suffered in the last few years: 89% of the displaced population from the 2010 earthquake have left the camps; the number of cholera cases has been reduced by 50 percent from 2012 to 2013 and severe food insecurity has been brought down from 1.5 million affected people in early 2013 to 600,000 in October 2013. Also, national capacities to better prepare and respond to future…
Puerto Príncipe, 23 de enero de 2014 – La Representante Especial del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, junto con otros miembros de la comunidad internacional en Haití representados en el “Core Group” (los embajadores de Brasil, España, Estados Unidos, Francia y la Unión Europea, así como el encargado de negocios a.i. de Canadá y el representante especial de la Organización de los Estados Americanos) acogen con agrado el diálogo inter…
Over the last few decades, the housing sector, in Port-au-Prince and in other Haitian cities, developed mostly informally without regulatory frameworks or sector policies for the management of urban growth. The 2010 earthquake shed a crude light on the great vulnerability of Haitians, and the need for safer building practices. In 2013, significant progress was achieved with the support of the United Nations and the many partners working on…
Institutional governance remains a key challenge in Haiti. State revenues barely cover the operational needs of ministries and state entities, and the Triennial Investment Plan (PTI) for 2014-2016 relies heavily on external resources such as donor funding and PetroCaribe loans. Access to state services generally remains highly insufficient and varies greatly from one region to another. However, positive steps have been taken. The first…
The 63,000 inhabitants of Plaisance - situated 33km from Cap-Haïtien (in the North) - finally have their own Town Hall, a first since the town was founded by Royal Decree back in 1749 Julio Antoine sells sugar cane in front of the Town Hall of Plaisance. The new building is part of his daily life, so he is understandably proud; "I was born and raised here. Until now, the town officials never had a fixed locale. Now they have what they need," he…
Maxi St Félix, sculpteur sur bois Après 38 ans de carrière internationale, le sculpteur Maxi Saint Felix met tout son art au profit de la région d’Aquin… After 38-year international career, the sculptor Maxi Saint Felix puts his art in favor of Aquin region, south Haiti... La cheffe de la MINUSTAH a visité Miragoane La Cheffe de la MINUSTAH, Sandra Honoré a visité Miragoane. The Head of MINUSTAH, Sandra Honoré, visited Miragoane. Ah non, mes amis…
During her first visit to Miragoâne, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti met with local authorities and the staff of the UN Mission there. Sandra Honoré reiterated the support of MINUSTAH to strengthen Rule of Law in the Department of Nippes. Photo : Jean-Marc Poteau UN/MINUSTAH At the police HQ of Petite-Rivière-de-Nippes – newly renovated and equipped through MINUSTAH's Quick Impact Projects scheme…
Rule of law in Haiti remains a challenge, mainly due to dysfunctional institutions (justice, police and prisons). Professional police and accountable justice systems are essential to the stability of the country, and therefore to investments, economic growth and development. The United Nations supports the strengthening of rule of law through promoting democratic governance, securing the legal and physical security of the population and…
In the Haitian capital - particularly in the poorest neighborhoods - access to water is often difficult. In the higher parts of the city, water is sometimes even scarce – driving households to make economic sacrifices to obtain it. "Up there, we don't have access to water, while in some areas below, the water is simply wasted... Even when we source it, it's difficult to transport because the slope up here is too steep when you have a container…
During a forum held on January 15th at Torbeck, Civil Society organizations of the Southern Department presented a document of specifications to the Haitian state authorities - that will serve as an action plan for the implementation of development projects in the region. Written following three months of meetings and workshops throughout the Department, the document lists the priority needs of the population of the South, identified by over 260…
Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, the Volunteers Association for International Service (AVSI - after the Italian Associazione Volontari per il Servizio internationale) offers gynaecological care for the women of Cité Soleil. Since its February 2013 launch, the services provided by the project called Plis Espas pour Famsn ('More Space for Women' in Creole) aim to benefit 2,000 females in this area plagued by extreme poverty. A. A. Goulgue-UN…
Seven months after the appearance of the first Bike Brigade on the streets of Croix-des-Bouquets (West), there are now 43 police officers on bike patrol in six different communes. To strengthen the role of community policing in the Haitian police landscape, special training has now been introduced into the curriculum of the Ecole Nationale de Police (ENP). In a room of the Académie de Police, 14 shorts-wearing trainers from the ENP – including…