PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, - The Steering Committee of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF) has just approved US$52 million in new projects and announced US$60 million in new contributions for rebuilding the country.
The projects that were approved include a programme to support housing and community reconstruction (for nearly US $25 million) and an earthquake prevention project for the north of Haiti (US $10 million).
In addition, support was indicated for a housing finance facility (US $10 million) and a milk production and nutrition project (US $17 million), provided that partners are confirmed to appraise and supervise these projects.
New contributions were also announced by the Governments of Japan and Spain for US$30 million each.
"This additional contribution completes the US$100 million commitment in aid promised by Japan during the International Donors Conference in March 2010 in New York. Haiti's reconstruction remains a global challenge, but I am convinced that the Haitian people, with the help of the international community, will face it up successfully," said the Japanese representative, Kentaro Minami.
Spain's Special Ambassador for Haiti Reconstruction, Arturo Reig Tapia, said that through this collaboration, his country wants to boost the leadership of the Haitian government, as well as encourage the most efficient degree of coordination efforts towards reconstruction.
As of this month, 17 donors have committed US$329 million to the Fund of which US$282 million has been received. Twenty-three percent of all reconstruction finance mobilized for Haiti in 2010 was channeled through the HRF.
The HRF is a partnership between the international community and the Government of Haiti. It mobilizes, coordinates and allocates financial contributions from international donors to fund high-priority reconstruction projects and provide budget support. Priorities are determined by the Government of Haiti through its Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC).