BRUSSELS- The European Union is preparing a second humanitarian funding package of Euro 10 million (US$13.3 million) to fight the cholera epidemic in Haiti, a senior European official said earlier today.
But the EU is insisting that that “unimpeded access to all those in need and respect for basic humanitarian principles is an absolute prerequisite for more funds being made available”.
European humanitarian aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said the anti-cholera efforts undertaken before of the post-electoral riots have reduced the daily rate of cholera deaths from 50 on November 23 to 22 on December.
“We are working to continue with this positive trend, but to be successful, humanitarian workers and victims of cholera need peace. Insecurity is killing more people by preventing treatment than by violence in the streets,” she said. “If turmoil persists, the cholera epidemic can go out of control. It is essential to allow patients to be treated, clean water to be provided and good sanitation to be ensured. If we fail to do so, the consequences could be devastating,” Georgieva said.
The initial Euro 12 million (US$15.9 million) in funding made available by the EU had been exhausted and the second Euro 10 million package was now being put together, the EU said in a statement. The cholera epidemic has been ravaging the country in waves for nearly two months, affecting more than 93, 000 people and killing more than 2,100. “These figures are likely to rise dramatically the longer the current unrest goes on. The situation is particularly worrying in areas where the cholera attack and lethality rates are currently very high,” the EC said.
