Earthquake Demands Responsible Aid

Overview and Analysis

Haiti’s past makes its future uncertain, despite the pledges of support from world leaders in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and aftershocks that levelled the country’s capital killing an estimated 200,000 on Jan. 12.

Haiti’s history reads like a string of atrocities and tragedies beginning with the death of its native population after Spain claimed the island in 1492. Spain and France dominated the country’s earlier history, exploiting its resources with slave labour until the slaves rebelled and claimed the country. That was over 200 years ago.

As the poorest and most corrupt country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti’s stability has frequently relied on the help of foreign governments, with its own governments most often being led by democratically elected despots or leaders that took power through short-lived coups. Much of the country’s infrastructure was built during a U.S. occupation between 1915 and 1934.

The country is listed as 12th from the bottom of the Failed State Index published annually by Fund for Peace, a U.S. think tank. Haiti is the only country in the Western Hemisphere listed in the “Alert” category. Haiti’s governments have often been unable to exercise practical control over much of the country.

That was before the quake levelled virtually every government building, effectively destroying the government and casting the population of the capital, Port-au-Prince, onto the streets. So thorough was the destruction of the 7.0-magnitude quake that a 5.9-magnitude aftershock on Jan. 20 caused little further damage and no casualties because most people were sleeping in the open.

The United States and Canada have been the two largest donors to Haiti and will likely continue to be so during reconstruction efforts. But large amounts of aid have previously done little to help in the face of widespread government corruption. Canada has been the second largest aid donor there after the U.S. and Haiti is Canada’s second highest aid destination after Afghanistan.

Canada is perhaps most concerned with Haiti and has led efforts to help the country in the wake of this latest devastation. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has been lauded for its quick response to the crisis. Last weekend in Montreal, Canada hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from around the world to discuss what to do in Haiti.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced that Canada will be calling on G7 finance ministers at the meeting in Iqaluit Feb. 5 and 6 to forgive the country’s debt. Canada already gives its aid to Haiti in the form of grants rather than loans.

Before the quake hit, 80 percent of Haiti’s population lived under the poverty line with over 50 percent in abject poverty, and according to UNICEF, nearly half of Haiti’s population of 10 million are children, many now orphaned.

A plane carrying 52 Haitian children arrived in Ottawa Wednesday for fast-tracked adoptions. They are the second such group to arrive. Canada is also fast-tracking refugee and immigration applications.

There is no arguing Haiti’s desperate need for assistance. Over 2 million people live within the zone of heavy to moderate structural damage. With a total population of 10 million, that means a fifth of the population is within the devastation. In Canada, it would be equivalent to losing the Greater Toronto Area.

At last weekend’s emergency meeting, the attendees did not come up with figures for aid but some observers, including the president of neighbouring Dominican Republic, place costs at $10 billion over 5 years. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that 10 years of hard work in Haiti is not an exaggeration.

But with Haiti’s rampant corruption, the thought of sending billions to rebuild the country has raised concerns about how effective that money will be.

Between 1990 and 2002, Haiti received $4 billion from Canada and the U.S., but the average Haitian saw little benefit.

Both governments have long been aware of corruption, oppression, political assassinations, and general turmoil there. Some commentators have compared previous aid to putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

Haitians themselves seem to have little faith the government will help, and business people and refugees alike have been saying money will simply flow into the pockets of corrupt officials.

With such devastation, it would be irresponsible for aid donors to squander taxpayers’ money on ineffective reconstruction efforts. If nations are going to commit to helping Haiti get back on its feet, that broken leg better be put in a cast to make sure the country can stand strong after the billions are spent.