TransAfrica Forum says U.S. Relief Efforts in Haiti Are Not Being Effective

TransAfrica Forum says U.S. Relief Efforts in Haiti Are Not Being Effective; Claims by Southern Command that ‘The Medical Situation Has Improved’ are Unfounded

“The situation in Haiti remains dire. No one should be deceived. Hundreds of people still desperately need medical care, shelter and food. The U.S. needs to remain vigilant and provide effective assistance" --Nicole Lee, President of TransAfrica Forum in Haiti this week

Quoted in the New York Times on Wednesday, March 10th, a spokesman for the United States Southern Command stated, “The situation on the ground in terms of the medical situation has improved.” Mr. Jose Ruiz goes on to say, “Demand for medical care is not exceeding the capacity of facilities on the ground.” Mr. Ruiz’s statement flies in the face of evidence discovered over the past two weeks by TransAfrica Forum staff and numerous civil society partners in Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are going without food, shelter and medical care every day. TransAfrica’s President, Nicole Lee, is in Haiti this week and has seen first hand that assistance programs are failing to meet the enormous need. More...