Canada responds to Hurricane Matthew, supports Haiti with N12.6bn

NaijaAgroNet:

The Canadian government has drummed support for Haiti in response to the Hurricane Matthew to the tune of $54 million, about N12,628,569,600 billion, repots NaijaAgroNet

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, made this disclosure recently on her first official visit to Haiti, where she met with Canadian and international humanitarian partners working in the most affected areas and government officials in Port-au-Prince., saying the $54 million in funding is to support various humanitarian and development projects in Haiti.

This funding, she said, includes $2.65 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help meet the immediate needs of those affected by natural disasters and $1.4 million to support the ongoing election in Haiti and ensure citizens are able to participate at polling stations in affected areas, as well as a $50-million call for proposals to strengthen agriculture through long-term development projects.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the damages caused by Hurricane Matthew severely affected Haiti’s local food resources, including fishing and agriculture. Canada has been one of the top donors in responding to the effects of the hurricane. Today’s additional humanitarian assistance funding will help provide emergency food assistance and respond to the agricultural needs of the most vulnerable.

These initiatives are part of Canada’s balanced response to Hurricane Matthew and long-term development needs which are in line with Canada’s long-standing engagement in Haiti.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Haiti needs N11.62b for agric rehabilitation, FAO

Colossal damage in Haiti caused by Hurricane Sandy

In order to help rehabilitate Haiti's agriculture sector for the next one year, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Haiti Government are jointly seeking $74 million, about N11.62 billion.

The fund is important as the sandy, Superstorm of October really caused colossal damage to Haiti's crops, land, livestock, fisheries and rural infrastructural alike.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that the October 23 hit was the third disaster in few months. The October 23 superstorm was a three consecutive days of intense winds and heavy rain leading to severe flooding which damage and destroyed homes, farms and public infrastructure.

The three disasters has also cost the Government of Haiti to loss $254 million, about N39.9 billion and affected the living condition of 1.5 million people.

FAO in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet revealed that the Superstorm also resulted in over half a million Haitians being food insecure.

FAO and Haiti Government would be using about N628 million of the needed amount to immediately assist 20,000 families to enable them make it through the winter cropping season which starts in December.

FAO Senior Emergency Coordinator in Haiti, Adam Yao said that the recent natural disasters in the Caribbean country need a robust response of the UN agency to support ongoing government efforts.

Yinka Awosanya

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