CRS Reiterates Call for Humanitarian Corridor in Haiti

Catholic Relief Services
Monday, 1 March 2004

With the resignation of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the arrival of rebel forces in Port-au-Prince, the situation remains tense, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) reported today. All humanitarian aid delivery has been suspended due to insecurity within the capital and on the nation's roads.

"We are calling on the government, the political opposition and the armed groups to help restore civil order as soon as possible so that we can reach those who are suffering," said Dula James, CRS Country Representative for Haiti. "This is a dire situation, and the margin for error in a country like Haiti is very slim. People are depending on humanitarian aid for survival right now."

Looting and mob violence in the capital's port have created concern over the safety of food aid intended for some of the most vulnerable people in Haiti: orphans, the elderly, people living with HIV/AIDS and street children. Beyond the port, however, CRS has supplies that are ready to be delivered as soon as the security situation improves. "Aid must get through. We need only safe passage to begin distributions and help people begin to return their lives to normal," James said.

Staff from the CRS/Dominican Republic program are assessing the situation along the northern border with Haiti, exploring ways to provide needed assistance in the event of an increase in refugees and displaced persons.

Last week, more than 100 refugees have arrived by boat in nearby Jamaica. The Jamaican government fears that a worsening situation in Haiti will lead to a flood of refugees to the island, putting pressure on the country's limited resources. CRS is supporting the Catholic Church and the government in Jamaica as they struggle to meet the needs of refugees.

CRS has worked in Haiti for 50 years, providing assistance in the areas of food security, HIV/AIDS care, safety net programs, civil society, health, water and sanitation, education and agriculture.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in 94 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org