Haiti Earthquake 2 years on - Most vulnerable must not be forgotten

Port-au-Prince: January 9th 2012

TWO years since its devastating earthquake, commitments made to help Haiti must be honoured, says children’s organisation Plan International.

There are still some 500,000 people living in temporary shelters among them many tens of thousands are children and young people.

“Haiti is a very young nation with around half of its population aged under 18. There are many vulnerable young people at risk if we allow this to become simply 2010’s forgotten crisis,” said Plan’s director in Haiti, John Chaloner.

“Many of them in the camps lack the most basic of resources, proper support and protection. This resilient young generation needs continued support in quality education and employment to give them real hope for the future and the opportunities they deserve.”

Plan, like many NGOs, believes the Government of Haiti must fulfil its responsibility and take leadership on shelter, healthcare, education and economic growth. But with the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere still struggling to rebuild, the challenge is still major.

Plan is concentrating its focus on 3 areas:

■ Safe, quality education and opportunities for young people
■ Full social participation for Haitian girls - this includes campaigns targeting education, gender based violence, youth pregnancy and work rights.
■ Birth registration – to enable young people to participate and benefit from services such as education, as well as helping to reduce child trafficking and tackle child abuse.

Mr Chaloner said: “If Haiti is to rebuild from this terrible disaster as a self-sustaining, successful country its young people need strong child protection systems and access to quality health care and education and we remain optimistic that can be achieved.”