UN calls for donations to Haiti humanitarian fund

The UN has launched an emergency appeal for $35 million to meet the medical and nutritional needs of three million Haitians over the next six months.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said that problems in the troubled country have been "exacerbated" by recent turmoil.

"What we saw is that the dramatic events of the last few weeks put the Haitian people, who were already suffering from deprivation and poverty, in an even more vulnerable position," he said.

Humanitarian access is very limited in Haiti, which remains volatile, Mr Egeland said. More than 3,000 prisoners have been released - and then armed by various gangs – while thousands of political activists are also carrying weapons. Looting, killing and arson are widespread in the capital, Port-au-Prince, he added.

The appeal runs in tandem with a appeal for $85 million launched last April to cover 18 months of humanitarian and other aid for the country of 8.3 million people.

But that drive has only received pledges of $38 million, so beyond food, water and sanitation, there is no money for other needs, such as economic recovery, one year after the appeal was launched, Mr Egeland said.

"Haiti has by far the worst health indicators of the Americas before the crisis, with the highest infant and maternal mortality rates, the highest level of malnutrition and the highest percentage of people living with HIV/AIDS all over this hemisphere," he said.

Elsewhere the UN has condemned the killing of a Spanish television reporter in Haiti last Sunday, and called on the authorities to punish those responsible.

“It is essential that journalists be able to carry out their work in conditions of reasonable safety, even in cases of conflict,” Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said.

Ricardo Ortega of Antena 3 television was one of at least six people killed by indiscriminate shooting outside the Presidential Palace on Sunday when militants loyal to former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide opened fire on the crowd.

(gmcg)