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