The international response to the 2012 Haiti consolidated appeal (CAP) has been disappointing, stated Nigel Fisher, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, during the launch of the revised CAP in Port au Prince. The objective of the appeal is to get international funding to support the most vulnerable populations affected by humanitarian crises in Haiti.

As of 24 July, only US$ 47 million was received against a total budget for the 2012 CAP of US$ 231 million. Faced with this financial reality, the 2012 Appeal budget has been cut significantly. The revised total is now US$ 128 million. This means that US$ 81 million is still required to meet the most urgent critical humanitarian needs for three major priorities: cholera response, earthquake response, and 2012 rainy season preparedness and response. "This is an appeal to the international community for a much-needed assistance that will not only allow people to have access to a minimum of life-saving services, but will also help them regain the hope necessary to rebuild their lives with dignity [...] These fragile gains might be reversed without continued support," declared Mr. Fisher.

"This appeal seeks funding for immediate emergency needs. We all recognize that in the long term jobs and economic recovery will help people in camps to have a better future, likewise effective management of cholera and other communicable diseases will require greater investment in building the capacity of the Haitian people, in protected water supplies and environmental sanitation systems across the country, and in proper waste disposal methods. Working together Haiti and its international partners must minimize unsanitary conditions that foster epidemics [...] But we must also have an immediate response capacity for those who are at highest risk here and now. Unfortunately with dwindling funding, unmet humanitarian needs are growing while simultaneously the humanitarian capacity to respond diminishes."

HL/ HaitiLibre