HIGHLIGHTS
- Demonstrations in Miragoâne, Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes
- Plans announced to reform Haitian educational system
- Possible demonstration planned for tomorrow
- Two bodies found in Fort National
- $4 million worth of seed to be donated to Haiti
I. GENERAL SITUATION
Politically motivated demonstrations continued throughout the country. Demonstrations were reported today in Miragoâne demanding that the president step down for having purportedly violated the constitution and protesting the lack of electricity in the region. Meanwhile, in Port-au-Prince, protests targeted the extension of the state of emergency. The demonstration in Miragoâne ended peacefully when it was agreed that electricity would be provided 12 hours a day, as well as all of tomorrow’s holiday (Flag Day). Gunfire marred the demonstration in downtown Port-au-Prince, where a demonstrator received a gunshot wound in the chest and taken to hospital. The shooter was not identified. Objects were thrown at a UN vehicle, but no damage or injuries were reported. A peaceful demonstration in support of the local mayor was reported in Les Cayes.
On Saturday, President Préval gave the Inter-American Development Bank a mandate to work with national education authorities to prepare a major reform of the Haitian education system. The five-year plan, which would require around $2 billion in funding from foreign donors, will be aimed at expanding tuition-free education services in Haiti. At present, nearly 90 percent of Haitian schools are private. Prior to the earthquake, which destroyed or damaged more than 4,000 schools, over half the children of primary school age were not enrolled in any educational institution. Under the proposed reform, most Haitian schools would become publicly funded but privately run institutions, forgoing tuition charges. A central fund would be established for the government to pay salaries of all teachers and school administrators participating in the new system. The plan will finance the creation of new schools, using existing buildings suitable for educational purposes and constructing new ones in safe locations to earthquake and hurricane resistant standards. Schools would also be used to provide critical community services such as nutrition, health care and other social services.
II. SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER
The overall security situation in Haiti remains stable, but the security environment continues to be characterized by a low level of criminal activity.
In addition, reports have been received of possible demonstrations tomorrow on Flag Day, an emotionally charged national holiday, by political movements and parties opposed to the extension of President Préval’s mandate.
On 15 May in the Pétion-Ville suburb of Port-au-Prince, a MINUSTAH national staff member was arrested by the HNP for verbally insulting an HNP officer. An investigation was opened. The same day in the capital, the body of an unidentified male of approximately thirty years of age was found on Tremarse Avenue. The body had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. On 16 May, another two bodies were discovered in Fort National. Finally, a 46-year-old man was murdered by a 70-year-old male in the Fontamera 27 area of Port-au-Prince.
On 15 May in Jérémy locality (Grand Anse), a 13-year-old girl was raped by a 15-year-old male. The victim was transported to the hospital and an investigation was opened.
On 16 May in Arcahaie, an escaped prisoner was arrested and was detained by the HNP pending further investigation.
On 15-16 May, UNPOL and HNP conducted 717 joint patrols and 76 checkpoints throughout the country. A total of 67 arrests and one escapee arrest were reported. MINUSTAH military conducted 1,947 security operations involving 9,638 troops and 12 maritime patrols sailing 232 nautical miles.
III. HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS
US-based Monsanto has partnered with the Haitian agriculture ministry to donate $4 million worth of seeds to Haiti. The first 60-tonne consignment of the 475-tonne donation arrived last week, consisting of maize and vegetable seeds. Subsequent shipments will include cabbage, carrot, aubergine, melon, onion, tomato, spinach and watermelon, all of which have been deemed appropriate for Haitian growing conditions and farming practices. Actual distribution is being implemented by the USAID-funded WINNER Project, as part of a larger initiative to increase farmer productivity with technical and material support. WINNER will distribute the seeds through farmer association stores, to be sold at a significantly reduced price. These stores will then use the revenue generated to reinvest in other inputs needed by their members. The goal is to reach 10,000 Haitian farmers this growing season.
The Papay Peasant Movement, which brings together peasant farmers, has pledged to burn the Monsanto-donated seeds and called for a march to protest the corporation’s presence in Haiti to be held on 4 June, World Environment Day. Their reasons for this opposition include the dangers posed by chemical pesticides used to treat the seeds, as well as a perceived threat to local seed production. While special concerns have also been expressed about the importation of genetically modified organisms, Monsanto representatives have assured the agriculture ministry during the approval process that the seeds being donated are not genetically modified.
In addition to its cash-for-work and food-for-work schemes, WFP is expanding its school-feeding programme from its current level of around a half-million children aged six to fourteen years to reach a target of 800,000 across Haiti. The dual objective of the programme is to improve the nutritional status of the children and encourage school attendance. In order to mitigate the possibility of competing with local agricultural production, the UN food agency has made a commitment to purchase part of the commodities for the programme from Haitian farmers.
On 15 May, WFP distributed humanitarian aid for 2,502 families in Caracolie locality. MINUSTAH Police and military personnel assisted HNP officers in conducting security operations during the distribution.
IV. JOTC
The Joint Operations and Tasking Centre (JOTC) continued to respond to requests for assistance from humanitarian partners, as well as to provide administrative support to the Coordination Support Committee (CSC) Planning Task Force and the PMCC. To date, 737 requests for support have been received and 472 completed. Most of the requests pertain to the provision of security and engineering support.
No comments:
Post a Comment