BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SUPPORT from the international community is likely to be critical for the recovery effort in Haiti after the Caribbean island was stricken with a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday (Jan. 12).
As news of the extensive damage caused spread around the world, World Bank President Robert Zoellick made a statement, expressing profound sympathy for the estimated three million affected by the disaster. He reassured the people of Haiti that the international financial institution has already begun mobilizing its resources to help the country respond to the catastrophe.
“This is a shocking event and our thoughts are with the Haitian people at this terrible time,” said Zoellick. “The World Bank is ready to mobilize a team to help assess damage and losses and plan recovery and reconstruction. The Bank stands ready to help with financial assistance.”
By the following day (Jan. 13), Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn issued a press statement noting that he is “very saddened” by the unfolding events in Haiti, especially since the island was just recently battered by four tropical storms in 2008 that left over 800 dead.
Strauss-Kahn expressed his confidence in the international community to mobilize quickly and offer support to the nation.
“The IMF stands ready to do its part with appropriate support in our areas of expertise. I have already asked staff to look into all the possibilities. We will coordinate with other international agencies, and mobilize our assistance as quickly as possible.”
An estimated 100 000 deaths are believed to have been caused by the quake and damages to thousands of buildings have been reported throughout the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The World Bank offices in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petion-Ville were destroyed, but most staff members have been safely accounted for.
According to the World Bank, it has 14 main ongoing projects in Haiti in areas such as disaster risk management, infrastructure, community-driven development, education and economic governance.
Governments of the Caribbean have begun making their commitments to Haiti as the region and the world unite in this time of crisis.
