dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

MINUSTAH (UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti)

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) established MINUSTAH in June 2004 to restore a secure and stable environment, to promote the political process, to strengthen Haiti's Government institutions and rule-of-law-structures, as well as to promote and to protect human rights. The UNSC has extended the mandate for MINUSTAH annually, drawing on six monthly reports from the UN Secretary-General. While Australia does not contribute troops or police to MINUSTAH, Australia does contribute significant funds through assessed contributions and as a member of the UNSC 2013-2014 has participated in the Security Council's work on Haiti.

Bilateral relations

Australia has diplomatic relations with Haiti and coordinates on issues of shared concern, including in the United Nations. Australia has also supported Haiti through the regional development program. In 2009, Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM - which includes Haiti) regarding international cooperation on development assistance. From 2010 to 2014, Australia provided A$60 million in official development assistance to CARICOM including 128 scholarships, 70 fellowships, 25 volunteers and training for 61 diplomats. The regional program has now closed, though some activities that have already been funded will continue until 2018.

Haiti earthquake response

Australia responded quickly to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010.

The Australian Government provided $26.2 million for immediate relief and reconstruction following the January 2010 earthquake, while the Australian public generously donated $26 million in response to appeals by Australian non-government organisations. By 2014 virtually all of the Australian Government's assistance had been either delivered on the ground or allocated to international agencies to deliver their programs.

$10 million in emergency assistance was provided in the immediate aftermath of the disaster to support relief efforts:

$1 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

$4.5 million to the United Nations World Food Program which helped provide food to an estimated 3.5 million people

$1 million to the United Nations Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

$1 million to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

$2.5 million to six Australian NGOs—Oxfam, CARE, Caritas, Save the Children, Plan and World Vision.

This funding also helped deliver clean water, shelter, education and protection—for 4,800 children.

$14 million was provided to support recovery and longer-term reconstruction efforts in Haiti:

$2.5 million to the United Nations Development Programme's Cash for Work Programme which created jobs for more than 97,000 Haitians

$10 million to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund which is managed by the World Bank

Of the remaining $1.5 million, $750,000 was provided to support the Caribbean Community's relief efforts and $750,000 to help construct water tanks for rainwater storage in partnership with Brazil.

The Australian Government rapidly responded to UNICEF's cholera appeal providing $1 million in December 2010 and then $455,000 through CARICOM in May 2011. In addition, $765,000 supported Cuba's delivery of health assistance in Haiti.

The October 2010 cholera outbreak was mostly centred in central rural regions of Haiti straddling the Artibonite River. As of 20 July 2014, the cholera epidemic had caused the death of 8,570 persons and infected 705,084.

Australia also deployed through the Australian Civilian Corps, a donor liaison officer in the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission in Port-Au-Prince for 12 months ending March 2012.

With the support of Australia and other international donors more than 1.5 million people returned to their homes and have been rebuilding their livelihoods.

With the humanitarian situation and response now stabilised, the Haitian Government and donor partners are focusing on finding longer term solutions for the large numbers of people displaced, numbering approximately 103,565 (as of 30 June 2014). Efforts will focus on shelter, livelihoods, health, education, the environment and other vital needs.

https://dfat.gov.au/geo/haiti/Pages/haiti-country-brief.aspx