In response to the appeal launched by the Government of Haiti following the passage of Sandy, OCHA, the European Union and France announce their first measures of financial assistance to Haiti following the passage of Sandy late October.

Wednesday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced Wednesday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced

Thursday the European Commission (EU) has announced a relief of 6 million for Haiti and Cuba. This emergency fund will allow to immediately assist the people most affected in both countries through the provision of food and basic household items, as well as house repairs and restoration of water and sanitation infrastructure. The funds will also help restore local agriculture by providing farmers with seeds and tools.

In response to the appeal launched by the Government of Haiti, France immediately mobilized €700,000 to rebuild the bridge of Arcahaie away a te th passage of Sandy, an infrastructure essential to traffic and trade between the North and the South

In addition, 160,000 euros will be awarded to the revival of agriculture in the department of Nippes (south), one of the hardest hit by the storm. In this department, 100% crop of beans and carrots were destroyed, 90% of the fruit fell to the ground before maturity, 50% of feet of bananas were lying on the ground.

This aid will allow to implement a series of measures and actions in the short term :

• Fourniture de semences maraîchère de qualité et d’engrais ;

• Employment of peasants affected by Sandy to "hold" until the next harvest (March): The objective is to improve food security and economic development and address the vulnerability of Haiti by supporting development work of watersheds (construction of basins for the water storage, and family cisterns, diversification of production to strengthen the ecosystem etc...) 1,000 families will be supported by this project ;

• Creation of a nursery to diversify and strengthen the ecosystem and to better protect the plots against the effects of high winds.

In the wake of these immediate measures, France is preparing an additional €8 million to build the school canteen, which favors the purchase of local products in order to give farmers a market for their future crops.

See also :

www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7079-haiti-agriculture-$104-million-losses-in-the-agricultural-sector.html

HL/ HaitiLibre