German version of News Update

Geneva, March 10,2004—The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) representative in Haiti, Michael Kuehn, has appealed for long-term assistance and support for the Caribbean nation after the recent political crisis that has resulted in humanitarian emergency situation. Long-term, participatory programs for development could make an important contribution to crisis prevention, said Kuehn, director of the LWF Department for World Service (DWS) country program in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. LWF is one of four members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities during emergencies - in Haiti.

The formation of a government in Haiti, he said, and establishment of trust within society must be given priority following the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, after weeks of violent rebellion against his rule. Insecurity, Kuehn noted, still constitutes a major problem, as many people worry about the violence, looting and widespread destruction.

Analyzing the current situation, Kuehn stressed the need for psycho-social support for the vulnerable in society - the sick, women, children, rural populations and marginalized urban groups - who constitute almost 80 percent of the country's eight million people. He said confidence-building measures would be taken up within the framework of a reconciliation policy that embraces the entire Haitian society. The LWF/DWS Haiti country program did not evacuate its staff at the height of the current political crisis. It will respond to the emerging needs in collaboration with ACT International.

Kuehn noted that the present situation particularly demands further work on strengthening civil society and its participation in building up Haiti. The work done so far, could have produced good results in some ways, but the civil society was weak. "We must continue to work along these lines with our partners in Haiti. But it also is important not to lose sight of the fact that state institutions are weak," he stated. Civil society, he stressed, cannot act reasonably if state institutions do not provide the necessary structural guarantees. The LWF/DWS Haiti program focuses on strengthening civil society, human rights work and establishing democratic values.

Kuehn suggested that in future the program work be expanded to include components of peaceful conflict resolution. He said his office could play a major part in reconciliation and peace-making efforts, which are considered a major starting point for dealing constructively with the conflicts between the opposition and Aristide's supporters.

Re-establishing normalcy and public order in Haiti, and guaranteeing coordination between non-governmental organizations and UN agencies is crucial, according to Kuehn. Poorly coordinated emergency-aid measures would destroy any positive attempts at sustainability, he stressed. He noted that the current food shortage does not in any case exceed the "ordinary level," and described Haiti's "normal catastrophe" - the predominant fight against poverty - as the main objective of LWF/DWS work there. To this end, it is necessary to find "patient but reliable donors" and to ensure international cooperation in development policy, he added.

[The ACT members in Haiti are: Christian Aid (CAID), Fédération Protestante d'Haiti (FPH), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Service Chrétien d'Haiti (SCH).]