Contacts: In Washington : Sergio Jellinek (202) 358-2841 sjellinek@worldbank.org Stevan Jackson (202) 458-5054 sjackson@worldbank.org WASHINGTON , November 7, 2007 – The World Bank today announced it is making available immediate support of US$4 million to the government of Haiti to help provide urgent assistance, following the passage of Tropical Storm Noel last week. The funds are being redirected from ongoing projects. Support for longer term rehabilitation and reconstruction includes a US$7 million new grant. “Bank staff are on the ground assessing the damage jointly with the United Nations, government and other organizations, and discussing with authorities how best the Bank can support their recovery efforts,” said Pamela Cox, the World Bank’s Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean. “As well as quick assistance to help those most in need now, we are increasing support for Haiti in strengthening capacity to mitigate and respond to disasters, to reduce the human, physical and economic impact of future storms.” A team of Bank experts will visit Haiti to start preparing emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction projects to be funded through the new grant to be provided through the Emergency Recovery and Disaster Management Project (ERDMP). The ERDMP was originally funded for $12 million and has been in execution since 2005. Funded by the International Development Association (IDA), this project has been instrumental in the re-establishment, creation and training of 52 community-based civil protection committees in 54 of the most highly vulnerable communities in the most at-risk departments in the country. On November 1st, Ms. Cox wrote to the government to express the sympathy of the World Bank for the damage, loss of life, injury and damage caused by Tropical Storm Noel. For more information on the World Bank’s work in Haiti, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/ht For more information on the International Development Association’s (IDA) contributions to Haiti, visit this website |
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