NEWS STORY: Tomm Kristiansen UPDATED: January 20, 2010
PHOTO: DKH/ACT
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — Haiti, now in ruins after the earthquake, is receiving millions of dollars in emergency aid, but has at the same time a huge debt to the same international community. Haiti owes the world $650 million. ACT Alliance members are now appealing to the international community to waive this massive debt.
Half the debt is to the Inter-American Development Bank and to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Norwegian Church Aid is asking the Norwegian government to use its influence to free Haiti from the burden. Christian Aid, UK is calling on Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling to do the same. Advertisements on the internet and in national newspapers over the next few days will ask members of the public to show their concern for the plight of Haiti by signing a petition.
“This year Haiti has to spend $20 million to repay the money lenders,” says NCA’s Wenche Fone who is responsible for the campaign. She appeals to other ACT member to challenge their governments on the Haiti debt issue. “This is a part of our long term relationship to Haiti. “We must not betray them the day the journalists leave Haiti,” Fone says.
“We are hoping for a huge response”, says Paul Brannen, Head of Advocacy and Influence at Christian Aid. “When 200,000 people are feared dead and countless more have had their bodies and their lives shattered by horrific destruction which will take years to repair, how can lenders still be demanding their money back?”
After the earthquake, IMF offered Haiti another loan of $100 million. NCA says that Haiti now needs grants, not new loans. “One of the causes of Haiti’s poverty is the international debt. Most of the loans were given when the former dictators “Papa” and “Baby” Doc ruled the country,” NCA has said in a letter to the Norwegian government.
