International donors pledge billions to Haiti’s reconstruction

The international donor conference on Haiti raised nearly 10 billion dollars for short and long term reconstruction in the country. Fifty-nine nations and international organizations contributed to the sum, which exceeded estimates going into the meeting in New York.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday after the conference concluded:
“Now that is an impressive some by any standards, but even more critically, of this amount, more than 5 billion dollars has been raised for the first 18 months of Haiti’s reconstruction. This far exceeds the 3.9 billion that the Haitians identified as their minimum need for this time period. This money has been pledged by a diverse community of nations.”

The United States pledged $1.15 billion; Canada $375 million. The World Bank also promised to cancel what is left of Haiti’s Bank debt and committed $250 million in new funding. The Bank will also head the fiscal management of the reconstruction fund.

Yesterday, activists outside the UN meeting called for greater transparency in the process and demanded more Haitian involvement in the recovery plans.

Over one million Haitians remain displaced by the January earthquake. And with heavy rains approaching, aid organizations and residents have said the most urgent need is for shelter, sanitation and longer-term housing.