I’ve worked at Oxfam through all sorts of different emergencies. The Haiti earthquake somehow feels different from those previous disasters.
I guess that’s because Haiti was already in a terrible state before the earthquake struck. Endemic poverty, weak government, weapons on the streets are just some of the ingredients that, compounded by the horror of the earthquake, mean that rebuilding Haiti, and helping the poorest people, will be such a massive task.
Tell the IMF to cancel Haiti’s debt
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At the moment the world’s attention is focused, rightly, on the humanitarian effort. Leaders are pledging to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Haiti and help them to build a brighter future out of the rubble.
World leaders and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are meeting in Montreal, Canada, on Monday to discuss the world’s response to the devastation that the earthquake has inflicted.
There is one thing they can do that can massively improve Haiti’s prospects. By canceling the country’s crippling debt the international community can help put Haiti on a stronger footing for the future.
Even before this earthquake struck, Haiti was weighed down by the burden of debt. They already owed over $891 million to the IMF and other lenders. This is a legacy of loans from global financial institutions and donor nations to unelected governments of years past.
The head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has come out and said that the IMF supports the idea of cancelling these debts. That’s fantastic news. But like a lot of these grand statements, we need to see it turned into action before we can consider it a done deal.
Following the earthquake, the IMF announced a $100 million loan to Haiti. They’ve subsequently said that this could be turned into a grant. But we need them to act now to make sure this happens
If they don’t do this these combined debts would lock them in poverty for years to come. That’s why we’re calling on the IMF to act now to get rid of the debt – and we need you to email them and show your support.
If these debts aren’t cancelled, Haiti will be sending tens of millions to the IMF and other international bodies even as it struggles to rescue and rebuild. If these debts are cancelled, the Haitian government will have a better chance to build their country, so that it is stronger than before.
Email the head of the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn to demand that the IMF cancels Haiti’s debt immediately to make sure that earthquake relief doesn’t create a new debt burden.