FAQs: Rebuilding Haiti after the Earthquake
Amid the overwhelming challenges facing Haiti, Canada remains committed to supporting its hemispheric partner, both in the ongoing provision of humanitarian and early recovery, and in longer-term reconstruction efforts. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions (below) intended to provide additional information concerning Canada’s efforts in Haiti and in the reconstruction process.
- How much money has Canada committed to the reconstruction effort?
- What was the role of the Canadian Forces after the Haiti earthquake?
- Why does the reconstruction effort appear to be moving so slowly?
- What is the role of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and how many projects have they approved so far?
- What is the role of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund and how does it differ from the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC)?
- Who else is contributing to the reconstruction effort?
- When and how will the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund be allocated?
Q. How much money has Canada committed to the reconstruction effort?
- A. Prior to the earthquake, Canada was already the second largest bilateral donor in Haiti, having committed $555 million over five years (2006-2011). In fact, Canada’s bilateral programming in Haiti goes back to 1968. Since the earthquake on January 12, 2010, Canada has maintained a significant presence in Haiti. In total, the Canadian government's current commitment to Haiti is more than $1 billion, making Haiti the largest recipient of Canadian assistance in the Americas.
- Canada has provided more than $150.15 million in humanitarian and early recovery assistance which helped provide Haitians with emergency medical services, relief supplies, water and sanitation, and shelter.
- In March 2010, at the International Donors Conference on Haiti in New York, Canada committed $400 million over two years for the reconstruction of Haiti to support the Government of Haiti Action Plan and priorities. This includes debt relief, support for Haiti’s justice and security institutions, as well as support for climate change adaptation initiatives in Haiti.
- This funding is in addition to Canada’s longer-term development assistance in Haiti ($555 million from 2006-2011), a program designed to meet the needs of the people, reinforce the Haitian Government, foster stability, and improve security and access to basic services.
- As part of this programming, CIDA has launched new initiatives, including the building of temporary facilities for key Haitian government departments, the rebuilding of the Gonaïves Hospital and the National Police Academy as well as a police-training program and support to the elections in Haiti.
- For more information about CIDA programming, please visit CIDA’s website: Summary of Canada's Financial Contributions to Haiti in Response to the Earthquake
- The Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (START) has also developed new projects to address the immediate stabilization needs of Haiti after the earthquake. These projects aim to strengthen community security, re-establish the justice system, assist police on delivering on their mandate and provide additional space for training recruits.
Q. What was the role of the Canadian Forces after the Haiti earthquake?
A. Operation HESTIA was the Canadian Forces (CF) participation in humanitarian operations conducted in response to the earthquake. Canada immediately deployed personnel to the area and quickly deployed the frigates HMCS ATHABASKAN and HMCS HALIFAX, as well as the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), to assist. CF presence contributed the following:
- Produced about 2.9,million litres of safe drinking water;
- Distributed almost 1.5 million meals;
- Provided street clearance and demolition of unstable structures in co-operation with civic authorities;
- Helped construct latrines at orphanages and camps for internally displaced people;
- Cleared rubble and made temporary repairs on roads between Jacmel and Léogâne;
- Transported over 5,445 passengers;
- Dispatched mobile medical teams in isolated communities;
- Delivered basic health care services to over 22,200 Haitians;
- Assisted the U.N. in providing security with 198 Platoon-sized teams.
Q. Why does the reconstruction effort appear to be moving so slowly?
A. Rebuilding Haiti is a momentous task that will take sustained effort and long-term commitment. It is not simply a matter of rebuilding the country's infrastructure, but key institutions and systems as well. Canada remains committed to supporting its hemispheric partner in both the immediate and long-term.
The Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti describes three main phases of action to be supported by the international community:
- “The emergency period, which must be used to improve accommodation for the homeless; to return pupils to school and students to university and vocational training centres; to prepare for the next hurricane season in the summer; to pursue efforts to restore a sense of normality to economic life, especially by creating large numbers of jobs through high-intensity work, by guaranteeing stability in the financial sector and access to credit for SMEs; and to continue to reorganise state structures. During this period, it will be necessary to work on development strategies and plans for selected new economic centres; to pursue action in favour of equipping reception zones for those who have been displaced by the earthquake; and to set up an electoral process to avoid constitutional gaps.
- The implementation period (18 months), for projects to kick-start the future of Haiti and establish a framework of incentives and supervision for private investment on which Haiti’s economic growth will be founded. As foreseen by various analyses and assessments, private investment in the economy as well as in the social sector will form the backbone of the country’s reconstruction. Among the commitments of donors, support will be given to the private sector to provide it with the capacity required to fulfil this role.
- The reconstruction period (10 years) during which the reconstruction and recovery of Haiti will become a reality, in order to put the country back on the road to development, followed by another ten years to make it a real emerging country.”
Some results have been achieved. CIDA, through its humanitarian partners, has contributed to the provision of emergency food aid to 4.3 million Haitians; water and sanitation to 1.3 million Haitians; emergency and temporary housing to 370,000 households; and relief items following the earthquake. Assisting so many people to return to sustainable livelihoods takes time given the scale of the disaster. We are working hard with our partners and the Haitians themselves to alleviate the suffering and to get people into more permanent shelters.
Q. What is the role of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and how many projects have they approved so far?
A. The Interim Haiti Recovery Commission is responsible for coordinating international reconstruction efforts in Haiti while assuring they support the priorities set out in the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti. The situation in Haiti remains fragile with reconstruction progressing slowly. With the HIRC now established and ramping up its activities, Canada hopes that progress will continue at a more rapid pace.
The IHRC has endorsed over 80 projects to date, representing investments in excess of $3 billion USD to address both short and long term priorities of the Government of Haiti. Dozens of projects are in the IHRC approval pipeline. As the Interim Commission increases its work in coordinating project approvals in line with Haitian needs and priorities, Canada continues to deliver programming in Haiti in a number of critical sectors, including security sector reform and justice sector reform.
Q. What is the role of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund and how does it differ from the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC)?
A. The Haiti Reconstruction Fund pools a portion of the commitment of international resources in a single fund to help finance the reconstruction effort in Haiti. Governed by a Steering Committee composed of both international institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Bank, the United Nations, as well as representatives from the Government of Haiti and donor countries, the Haiti Reconstruction Fund is financing projects reviewed and approved by the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission. Through five meetings the IHRC has endorsed over 80 projects to date, representing investments in excess of $3 billions USD. Dozens of projects are in the IHRC approval pipeline. The Commission is meant to act as a flexible source where other funding is not immediately available to move forward with strategic reconstruction needs.
Q. Who else is contributing to the reconstruction effort?
A. While the Government of Canada employs a whole-of-government effort to reconstruction in Haiti, including through the assistance programs managed by both the Canadian International Development Agency and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, many governments and organizations across the globe have mobilized to come to the aid of the Haitian people. These include important partners such as the Group of Friends of Haiti (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Peru, United States, Uruguay), other major donors and key regional and multilateral partners engaged in Haiti (European Union, Japan, Spain), and neighbouring Caribbean countries.
Q. When and how will the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund be allocated?
A. On March 31, 2010, CIDA announced the $220 million Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, set up to match eligible donations by Canadians to registered Canadian charities. Programming supported through the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund is being approved on an ongoing basis as needs and opportunities are identified.
Canada is working with the Government of Haiti, its Canadian partners, and its international counterparts, to assist the most vulnerable and to rebuild Haiti, in accordance with Haiti’s Action Plan. Canada is on track to meet its commitment.
