Haiti Press Release
Resources for press
A press conference at 12:30 GMT Wednesday 27th January included Mathieu Getro from Association Secours Ambulance Haiti, Bruno Haaghebert, a disaster reduction consultant, Margareta Wahlstrom - special representative for Disaster Reduction at the UN, and Marcus Oxley - chair of the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction.
The press conference had a running time of approx 30 mins and resources here include the press release and statement document, the video and the audio file of the conference will be available
Audio file now available here To download the file 'right click' it (control click on a mac) and select 'save link as'
Full press release available here To download the file 'right click' it (control click on a mac) and select 'save link as'
Press release video (4 parts)
Press release part 1
Press release part 2
Press release part 3
Press release part 4
Following the Haiti disaster, the Global Network for Disaster Reduction is calling for a major change to the way aid is given to avoid creating further death traps with international aid.
Governments must be held accountable for standards of construction so new public buildings will be built to safer standards to withstand future shocks. Local communities must be empowered to share in the rebuilding of their towns - and to hold governments to account for the quality of construction.
Key quotes from the speakers are given below:
Mathieu Getro, Action Secours Ambulance
- ‘I was in the office with my colleagues we felt the building shaking. I was able to get under a table, as I had been trained. All the refugees are in the streets now because of the buildings that have fallen down. Some of these were financed by international aid. When you give to Haiti now, give us something good.’
Marcus Oxley, Chair, Global Network for Disaster Reduction
- ‘Critical public buildings – schools and hospitals – collapsed. These are the very buildings that were constructed using international aid. Not only has that aid been a waste of money, it’s been a death trap for those the aid was given for. Where’s the accountability in this? There has to be a change in the way that system of aid is working.’
Bruno Haghebaert, international disaster risk reduction consultant
- ‘In June the next hurricane season is due. In 2008 Haiti was hit by four storms that affected tens of thousands. If a hurricane strikes just imagine the impact a flood would have on these tent populations. We must rebuild the storm shelters to avoid a disaster within a disaster – that rare combination of an earthquake followed by a hurricane.’
Margareta Wahlström, UN Special Representative of Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction
- ‘Ten per cent of all relief aid should be used for disaster risk reduction. Building a safer school or hospital would not make a huge difference to the cost – just three or four per cent. This would give hospitals a much longer lifespan and make them resistant to earthquakes and hurricanes. If buildings are built back better it will save millions of dollars. More importantly, it will save lives.’
