MORE CANADIAN AID FOR HAITI ANNOUNCED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000271 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND WHA/CAR USAID FOR LAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID SOCI CA HA SUBJECT: MORE CANADIAN AID FOR HAITI ANNOUNCED ¶1. (U) Summary: Shortly before Foreign Minister Bernier's ongoing visit, the Canadian Government announced nearly C$125 million in support to Haiti, much of which will be used to construct and rehabilitate roads. The rest will be targeted to improve reproductive health; provide technical assistance to the Haitian State project; support school feeding; provide credit for tuition fees; support education; and improve disaster preparedness. Haiti is the largest recipient of long-term Canadian development assistance in the Americas. Its aid projects are consistent with Canada's focus on greater democratic governance, enhanced prosperity, and stronger security in the Hemisphere (septel). End Summary. ¶2. (U) Since the departure of President Aristide in 2004, Canada has played an important role in international efforts to re-establish security and stability in Haiti and to assist in reform and reconstruction efforts. Haiti has become Canada's most important long-term development assistance beneficiary in the Americas, and the second largest in the world (after Afghanistan). ¶3. (U) Foreign Minister Bernier is visiting Haiti on February 20-23. On February 15, International Development Minister Bev Oda and Public Works Minister Michael Fortier announced that Canada will spend nearly C$125 million on 7 projects to build roads, feed children, improve health care for mothers, contribute to economic recovery and increase Haiti's ability to respond to natural disasters. "These projects will provide immediate relief to Haitians and will also help create the long-term conditions essential to Haiti's sustainable development," Minister Oda said. "The Government of Canada is committed to reviving and expanding its leadership throughout the Americas, especially in fragile states like Haiti." The money is part of Canada's commitment of C$555 million over five years (2006-2011) to reconstruction and development efforts announced during Prime Minister Harper,s July 2007 visit to Haiti. ¶4. (U) C$75 million will go to the construction and rehabilitation of the 92 kilometer road between the major cities of Jeremie and Les Ceyes, through the Inter-American Development Bank's infrastructure program. This project will enable Haitians to have better access to services and will foster economic development in southwestern Haiti. ¶5. (U) The remaining nearly C$50 million will support six other initiatives: -- Improving Reproductive Health - C$19 million. This initiative aims to improve reproductive health care for women and adolescents. Implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),it will contribute to improving material health and reducing the maternal mortality ratio at the national level and especially in the Nippes and Southeast regions by three quarters by 2015. The UNFPA will provide obstetric care and implement information and education campaigns on family planning and reproductive health. The initiative aims to sensitive 40,000 Haitians of childbearing age every year on reproductive health issues; -- Technical assistance to the Haitian State project - C$13.8 million. Canada will provide assistance to central government institutions in Haiti to help them better fulfill their mandates. Activities will include: sharing expertise, training programs for Haitian public servants and the rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure projects. These activities will increase the technical and strategic capability of Haitian government institutions to implement Qcapability of Haitian government institutions to implement its National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction; -- School Feeding Support - C$5.4 million. Implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP),this initiative will provide balanced daily meals to 330,000 primary school children in five Haitian departments (North, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Artibonite). A variety of foods will be provided in accordance with the country's dietary habits. Enriched products meet the needs to address micronutrient deficiencies; -- Credit for Tuition Fees - C$5.4 million. The project will provide parents with loans to pay for their children's school fees, uniforms, and books through a network of 35 credit unions. This initiative will also include a component to implement innovations in teaching and learning, and inform parents about the importance of regular and continuous school attendance. It is expected that 45,250 loans will be delivered and the 210 primary schools will benefit from the program; OTTAWA 00000271 002 OF 002 -- Education for All in Haiti - C$1.2 million. This initiative will increase access to primary school to up to 13,500 poor children aged 6-12 this year, responding to Haiti's pressing need to facilitate the yearly back-to-school process. Canada's contribution will cover the operational expenses of the schools and the distribution of textbooks to students to enable poor families to enroll their children free of charge. The target areas are Nippes and Artibonite. The project is being implemented through Haiti's Ministry of Education; -- Disaster Preparedness in Haiti - C$700,000. Through the Pan-American Health Organization, this initiative will enhance Haiti's capacity to respond to disaster. Its key elements include the development of a national disaster preparedness and response plan, training for health care staff and information campaigns targeting the general public, particularly in southern Haiti. The overall objective is to reduce the population's vulnerability to floods, landslides and cyclones. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS