Initial assessment puts damage after earthquake in Haiti at over US $1 billion

An initial assessment has put the damage in Haiti after the August 14th earthquake, at over US $1 billion.

The impact assessment report was discussed Monday during a technical steering committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, and attended by senior government ministers as well as representatives of the Tripartite Partnership involving the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Henry spoke also of the availability of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which is at the forefront, alongside other national and international stakeholders, in the planning of post-earthquake reconstruction.

He encouraged all local and international actors to work rigorously in order to provide the government and its partners with adequate tools to better frame their interventions for the benefit of the earthquake victims.

The meeting formed part of the assessment of damage, losses and post-earthquake needs 2021, in the Southern Peninsula (PDNA-2021 / Post Disaster Needs Assessment).

United Nations Deputy Resident Coordinator in Haiti, Maureen Bermingham says the exercise is an opportunity not only for the physical reconstruction of the country, but also for social reconstruction.

World Bank Resident Representative in Haiti, Msellati Laurent, confirmed the readiness of the institution to align with the proposals that will be made by the partners of the United Nations, the European Union and the IDB.

He said that following the first satellite impact assessment, the results showed that the damage caused by the earthquake would require the disbursement of US$1.12 billion.

The technical steering committee has six weeks to finalize the preliminary version of the PDNA, produce the physical and economic reconstruction plan for the southern peninsula and organize the meeting of donors in order to have funds to finance the plan

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