"I am announcing today the creation of an international scientific panel to investigate the source of the cholera epidemic in Haiti. The panel will be completely independent and have full access to all UN premises and personnel", declared today Friday, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his end of year press conference.

In front to reporters at UN headquarters in New York, Ban Ki-moon said the goal was simple : "We want to make the best effort to get to the bottom of this and find answers that the people of Haiti deserve."

Since October, the cholera epidemic that hit the entire country has killed more than 2.478 and 112.330 people were infected.

According to press, which citing epidemiologists and scientific, studies on the virus strain showed its Asian origin. A contingent of peacekeepers from Nepal, which joined the UN Mission in Haiti (Minustah) shortly before the start of the epidemic, could be the source of the virus arrives on the island.

"As you know, there are several theories on the origins of the cholera outbreak in Haiti. Not all reports have reached the same conclusion. Minustahand the Government of Haiti have conducted a number of tests. All so far have been negative", said the Secretary-General, before explaining the reasons for the creation of this panel. "But there remain fair questions and legitimate concerns that demand the best answer that science can provide".

To conclude on this subject, Ban Ki-moon stressed the priority of the UN on the spot : "continues to be saving lives". "We are working to reassure the population that the disease can be managed through early treatment and some clear and simple steps". Then, he recalled that the UN and its agencies on the ground needed more money to fund their relief efforts. "The Cholera Response Strategy that we launched last month is still only 21 percent funded. Haiti needs more doctors, nurses, medical supplies, and it needs them urgently", he insisted.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1648-haiti-epidemic-un-needs-$164-million-for-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1805-haiti-epidemic-un-collected-2006-of-emergency-aid-to-fight-against-the-cholera.html

HL/ HaitiLibre