Scottish Government response to Haiti crisis commended
01 February 2010
As a partner organisation in the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Scotland, Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland recently met with Minister for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop in relation to deciding an appropriate response from the Scottish Government to the Haiti earthquake.
Charity spokesman Lindsay Scott says: "We are encouraged by our government's response, particularly in these challenging economic times, and although we will not be bidding for any of the funds available, are convinced that the money, secondments of Scottish Government staff for Scottish NGOs working on the appeal and providing direct aid, as well as its taking up the issue and the DEC fundraising campaign with local government, trade unions and business organisations, will have a significant impact."
Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland is especially concerned at the plight Haiti's older people. Because of the impact of HIV and AIDS on the middle generations, and because parents often leave Haiti to seek work, thousands of older people in Haiti are left to care for children. This entails having the responsibility for feeding, clothing and educating them and makes these older people and their charges two of the country's most at-risk groups, particularly in the current situation.
Our sister organisation HelpAge International's emergency response team in Haiti is currently working with other NGOs* and the Haitian Ministry of Social Affairs to reach vulnerable people, and has set up in eight areas in Port au Prince and one in Petit Goave to make sure those most in need get the right kind of assistance.
Each point contains two staff who are taking enquiries and providing information on accessing food, water etc. and a mobile team is working with affected communities to provide immediate relief and services to vulnerable older people and their dependents.
The Charity believes that on the whole, the response of the international community has been impressive, but the challenge now will be to make optimum use of the funds raised to focus on affordable, vital, small-scale projects that empower the local communities they serve into taking responsibility for their own physical and financial maintenance in future.
Haiti has historically suffered from decades of abuse, being treated as the personal fiefdom of a succession of despotic leaders and the task of fostering a stable government, economic growth, and domestic security faces daunting obstacles.
Lindsay Scott concludes: "We believe this is something that needs local buy-in and cannot be properly resolved by foreign intervention. Successful development models exist elsewhere that can be applied in Haiti - let's ensure that the money raised from the DEC and other appeals, makes this a success story."
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*Other agencies involved in the consortium are: CADOR, Christian Blinden Mission, Haitian Centre for Special Education, Haitian Society for the Blind, Handicap International, Healing Hands for Haiti and other local organisations.