PREVAL TO USAID: HAITI NEEDS URGENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001430 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX, WHA/CAR VDEPIRRO, S/ES-O/CMS, S/CRS, INR/IAA STATE PASS USAID FOR LAC/CAR, OFDA SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC PREL PINR EAID ECON HA SUBJECT: PREVAL TO USAID: HAITI NEEDS URGENT RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) President Rene Preval told visiting USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore and Ambassador Sanderson that his first priorities in response to devastation wrought by recent hurricanes were to rapidly repair damaged infrastructure (e.g., bridges) and provide emergency relief to assist the population immediately affected by floods. Preval made the case for stepped-up international engagement with Haiti over the next six months and beyond. End summary. Access to Affected Populations is Primary -------------- ¶2. (U) President Preval discussed his immediate priorities for assistance September 16 with visiting USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore and the Ambassador. Preval said his first priority was the repair of major bridges damaged in recent hurricanes; impassable bridges prevented land transport of assistance to needy populations in the North and South and of petroleum to the North. Preval also emphasized the importance of temporary bridge replacements, such as culverts. ¶3. (U) Administrator Fore underscored the continuing USG commitment to assist Haiti and initiated a discussion of priorities. She noted difficulties donors have encountered in establishing a division of labor in the field, and said it was essential that the Government of Haiti (GOH) take the lead in developing a plan that outlines key priorities. Preval urged donors to divide up responsibility for bridges for repair/reconstruction. Long-term Challenge -------------- ¶4. (U) The Ambassador voiced her concern about the longer term implications of using existing food assistance stockpiles for immediate emergency relief. She stressed the need to plan for replenishment of the ''food pipeline.'' She emphasized the critical need for technical and quantitative assessments in preparation for a rehabilitation phase. ¶5. (U) Preval highlighted the importance of maintaining aid over the long term in order to deal with a devastated agricultural sector and the destruction of road and bridge infrastructure. He opined that the country had been ''set back at least five years'' by the hurricanes. Fore said it may be opportune to present a range of scenarios for Haiti's reconstruction to the world community. She pointed to the upcoming U.S. Congressional and UN General Assembly sessions as a strategic opportunity. ¶6. Fore recommended the GOH move rapidly to prepare reconstruction assessments. Preval responded that before the current disaster, the National Strategy Document on Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (French acronym DSNCRP - a master development plan approved by the government last November) had estimated Haiti needed USD 4 billion over a three-year period. Now, Haiti would need at least double that amount. Focus on the Environment -------------- ¶7. (U) In response to a question from Fore about rehabilitation of agriculture, particularly in the Artibonite Valley, Preval responded that his priority was the environment. He expressed the need for watershed and water management (e.g., dry walls, hillside lakes, treatment of ravines, dams) to contain and direct run-off. Preval said that Gonaives was submerged four years ago and that unless water problems are well-managed, the problem could recur. Teachers Need Compensation -------------- ¶8. (U) Preval concluded by noting many teachers have lost one month's salary due to the delayed opening of school -- currently scheduled for October 6 -- and were also victims of PORT AU PR 00001430 002 OF 002 floods. Preval said funding to replace teachers' salaries was critical. TIGHE