Eurocommissaris humanitair beleid bezoekt Haïti, Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Ashton naar VN vergadering (en)

IP/10/26

Brussels, 16 January 2010

EU Aid Chief to travel to earthquake stricken Haiti

European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel De Gucht i will travel to Port-au-Prince early next week to see first-hand the situation of the people of Haiti.

Commissioner De Gucht will travel to Haiti following his participation in the emergency EU Development Ministers meeting to be chaired by Vice-President/High Representative Catherine Ashton on Monday. The meeting will discuss immediate emergency relief measures and the EU's contribution to post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction.

His visit will be an opportunity to assess the immediate life-saving humanitarian aid needs as well as the medium and long-term requirements for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country. He will also meet with the Haitian authorities and the UN and main aid representatives on the spot to discuss the coordination of the overall relief co-ordination effort, which the EU aims to consolidate and strengthen.

Vice-President/High Representative Catherine Ashton continues to coordinate the EU's contributions and activities with the EU Member States and international partners. She is in close contact with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon i ahead of their respective visits to the disaster region. Vice-President/High Representative Ashton will travel to the United States next week for meetings with the US Administration and at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The EU is committed to ensuring that the international community establishes a long-term commitment to support the rebuilding and sustainable development of Haiti.