More money, coordination needed for Haiti to recover | Tri-City Herald

Haiti was fragile before the earthquake hit last January. Six months later, it's shattered still.

Putting the country back together will take organization, effort and money. But the longer it takes to rebuild, the easier it is to become desensitized to the suffering.

It's also easier to let progress stall, which is what's happened.

The plight of the Haitian people touched hearts around the world immediately after the earthquake. Millions of dollars were pledged and donated. Doctors and medical supplies were sent to help the injured. Food and water were distributed. Tents were handed out.

For the most part, the emergency aid was a success. Mass starvation was avoided and epidemics were averted.

But now what?

The people wait while their government tries to rebuild the country.

And they wait and they wait.

In the rubble.

Progress has been painfully slow. It doesn't help that international donors have given only 10 percent of what they promised.

Former President Bill Clinton is head of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission along with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive.

That committee is set to oversee $5.3 billion pledged internationally for the first two years of Haiti's reconstruction, which is supposed to be separate from money spent on humanitarian aid. But with 90 percent of the money caught in bureaucracy in at least 60 different countries, there's no way to tell how much the Haitian government will get or when it might be available.

In the United States, about $30 million of the $1.5 billion promised has been paid. Congress still has to approve the rest.

As for humanitarian aid, much of that spending is on hold for now as well. Most of the $3.1 billion pledged for humanitarian aid has supported relief workers, field hospitals, food and other basic necessities.

Now agencies like the American Red Cross are waiting to see how else they can help, but they don't want to throw money at projects that aren't well organized.

Which brings up another problem -- lack of a solid plan. In a recent interview with PBS, Haitian President Rene Prevail said one of the biggest obstacles to the recovery process is coordination.

The good will is there, but the country has yet to find a way to coordinate the recovery process, especially since Haiti doesn't have all the money that was pledged, Prevail added.

Hindering the process are the fights among Haitian officials and wealthy landowners who are interested in profiting from the rebuilding process.

All in all, rebuilding the country is an overwhelming task. Yet it needs to get started soon.

International leaders who pledged money for Haiti need to keep their promises and expedite their donations. The Haiti Interim Reconstruction Commission needs to get going.

And Haiti's suffering needs to stay on the world's radar.