Jocelerme Privert takes the oath as temporary president of the Republic
On February 14th, the Parliament elected one of its own, 62 year-old Jocelerme Privert, as temporary president of Haiti, to fill the void created by the departure of former head of state Michel Martelly, who left on February 7th, according to his mandate. Privert’s election was quickly followed by his swearing-in and the handover of the presidential banner.
Haiti now has a new temporary president of the republic. Privert received 77 votes among which 64 came from the chamber of deputies and 13 came from the senate. The senator from Nippes who has had a career of 35 years in public service, promises to properly lead the electoral process and to form a government of consensus to improve the living conditions of the population. He is committed to meeting all of the vital sectors of the nation in order to bring a wide consensus.
HUNGER AFFECTS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HAITIAN POPULATION
The World food program (PAM), the agency of the United Nations, indicated that the number of people in severe food insecurity doubled in 6 months in Haiti, because of drought conditions and of El Niño.
3.6 million people go hungry, among whom 1.5 millions are experiencing severe food insecurity, according to a new study carried out by the PAM, the United Nations Organization for the Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the National Coordination of the Food safety in Haiti (CNSA).
In the spring, farmers lost as much as 70 % of their harvest in certain regions. These losses had a direct influence on the price of basic food products, some of which doubled. In a country where 75 % of the population lives with less than 2 dollars a day and when 50 % of the population depends on agriculture, a drought can bring disastrous consequences on the food safety of numerous families.
"If it doesn’t rain before the harvest of 2016, it will mean that numerous farmers will lose their third consecutive harvest and will not be able to meet the needs for their families," declared Wendy Bigham, Deputy Director of the PAM in Haiti. " We have to help them cover their immediate needs while helping them build their strength. "
The phenomenon El Nino which began at the beginning of 2015 is one of the strongest ever recorded, and has affected the food safety of the most vulnerable people all over the world.
In certain regions until 70 % of the population is experiencing food insecurity and according to a new study by the UNICEF, the rates of malnutrition above warning levels were observed in several municipalities, some testifying of an emergency situation.
On the basis of these new studies, PAM is going to intensify its emergency operation to answer the immediate needs for 1 million people in situation of severe food insecurity by making transfers of money as well as by distributing rations of food.
These immediate distributions will be completed by programs of "Money fort Work" where 200,000 people will receive some money in exchange for their work on projects of water management or land preservation to favor the long-term development. PAM has already implemented the projects of "Money for Work" for more than 30,000 people in zones the most affected by drought conditions.
In coordination with the government, PAM also distributed rations of food since November to 120,000 people affected by the drought. A ration of two months can feed a family of 5 people and includes basic food items such as rice, legumes, oil, sugar and salt.
Furthermore, PAM’s program of school canteens brings crucial assistance to about 500,000 children by assuring that they will be able to eat at least a daily meal, among them many are in regions affected by the drought.
It is essential that PAM continues to bring emergency aid so that families can meet their needs until the next harvest which will not take place before July, 2016. PAM, which is only financed by voluntary contributions, needs to raise 84 million dollars in order to cover the food basic needs for 1 million Haitians.
Rubio Comments On Newly Announced Haiti Transition Plan
Washington, D.C.Feb 08 2016
– U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today issued the following statement regarding the Haitian government’s new announcement of a plan to transition power:
“I welcome Haiti’s announcement of a transition to an interim government, followed by elections in the very near future. It is my hope that this updated schedule will allow the people of Haiti to have the opportunity to freely elect new leadership, and also for allegations of corruption and fraud in the previous election round to be addressed.
“The United States along with the Organization of American States should assist Haiti's transitional government during the coming months to help ensure that the presidential election occurs as scheduled and is free and fair. I urge all political factions to unite behind the interim government, work together to implement this new transition and election schedule, and put their differences aside in the interest of a better future for the Haitian people.
“Anyone who is promoting violence or undermining Haiti’s stability during this period should be held accountable, including through punitive actions by the U.S. government such as visa bans. It is in America's interest to continue supporting the people of Haiti during this key time.”
OAS urges D.R. to restore nationality to Haitian descendants
EFE - Washington9 Feb 2016
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a body of the Organization of American States, on Tuesday asked the Dominican Republic to restore nationality to thousands of people of Haitian descent affected by a controversial decision by the Dominican Constitutional Tribunal.
"The criteria adopted by the Constitutional Tribunal disproportionally affected persons of Haitian descent and retroactively deprived them of nationality, relegating them to the status of stateless persons," the commission said.
Based on a visit to the country, the commission's "Report on the Human Rights Situation in Dominican Republic" repudiates that persons born in Dominican territory who, according to Dominican legislation, are entitled to Dominican nationality, should be treated as foreigners.
The commission, an autonomous agency of the OAS, also urges the Dominican government to end "the practices of denying Dominican nationality to persons born in the territory based on the origin of their parents or ancestors, or the migratory status of their parents."
"The situation of statelessness generated by (Constitutional Tribunal) judgment 168/13 has not yet been completely corrected after the measures adopted by the Dominican State, is of a magnitude never before seen in the Americas," the rapporteur on the rights of migrants, Commissioner Enrique Gil Botero, said.
"This situation takes place in a context of historical discrimination that, in different spheres, face Dominicans of Haitian descent," said the rapporteur on the rights of Afro-Descendants, Commissioner Margarette May Macaulay.
"This historical discrimination has been evident in policies, laws, judgments and practices that tend to deprive them of their right to Dominican nationality on the basis of criteria such as the colour of their skin, the national origin of their parents or grandparents, their last names or their linguistic ability to speak Spanish," she said.
Many people born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian parents faced immense obstacles when trying to obtain the right documentation to register for the National Regularization Plan and only around 240,000 applications were received ahead of a June 17, 2015, deadline.