Part of a special journal issue focusing on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service in Haiti., The work USAID and the State Department have done in Haiti after the January 12 earthquake shows why these organizations should take the lead in disaster relief.
Hamburg, Germany: Institut fur Iberoamerika-Kunde (IIK), GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies/Leibniz-Institut fur Globale und Regionale Studien
Location:
African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With the intensification of economic relations between the People's Republic of China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, Beijing's role as a development donor has expanded in the region. The transparency of the Chinese donor services are limited since the transitions between development aid, investment and trade credits and direct investments are flowing. Focal points of Chinese engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean are upgrading the infrastructure projects in the extractive and energy sectors, education and training.
Analyzes Cuba's medical role in Haiti since Hurricane Georges in 1998, with particular emphasis on the Cuban government's response to the 2010 earthquake. Examines two central themes. First, it assesses the enormous impact on public health that Cuba has made since 1998, and second, it provides a comparative analysis of Cuba's medical role since the earthquake.
Discusses donations made by the US to developing countries. Often companies in the US donate leftover or unwanted merchandise to developing countries, and regularly these are products that the poor in those countries need or can use. Shipping leftover inventory as a donation also hurts the local economies in remote and poorer areas.
The problems associated with disaster relief assistance following the Haitian earthquake are described. International aid groups have been ineffective in reaching victims of the earthquake, as the poor administration of relief money has inadequately helped feed the population.
The head of the IMF has called for a major multilateral aid plan to rebuild Haiti where the fight is still on to save lives after a devastating earthquake. The IMF has promised initial $100 million as emergency funding and urges donors to grant additional debt relief.
The Haiti earthquake prompted offers to send aid and assistance in various forms from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and private foundations. The need for manpower on the ground to orchestrate the relief effort brought together military forces from the world over, to include the United States, which stood up Joint Task Force-Haiti (JTF-H). The combined effort of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and JTF-H in providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti following the earthquake demonstrates the importance of developing strong relationships, both institutional and personal, with partner nation armies.
Part of a special journal issue focusing on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service in Haiti., Offers 21 stories describing American Foreign Service Association experiences in disaster relief in Haiti.
