To help them to design the most effective reception systems for the recovery period and for any future disasters, the IFRC and that Haitian Red Cross Society launched a technical assistance project in September.
The project will assist Haitian authorities to analyze existing regulatory systems and practices for facilitating and overseeing international relief in light of the IDRL Guidelines and the experiences of other countries. It will include research on existing Haitian law as well as consultations with representatives from the government, international and non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders about how these rules have been applied in practice.
In connection with the project, on September 15, a workshop was held in Port-au-Prince with representatives from the various ministries involved in disaster management and regulation of international relief. Participants at the workshop emphasized their feeling that there is a need to strengthen existing Haitian law in this area, drawing on the IDRL Guidelines.
Bernice Kavanagh, head of the Unit for the Coordination of NGO Activities (UCAONG) at the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, welcomed the opportunity provided by the project to develop new law, noting that “we need to put in place a coordinating governmental structure and clarify the functions and responsibilities of all those coming to assist us.” The Deputy Director of the General Administration of Customs similarly affirmed that “a law like this would be key to legalizing our current procedures and reinforcing our national legal framework.”
A report from the project will be completed in the next few weeks.