Susie Scott Krabacher: Playboy or Humanitarian?

GONAÏVES, Haiti, 22 September 2008 Recently, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow visited Haiti to view the devastation wrought by a month of hurricanes and catastrophic flooding. Accompanying Ms. Farrow on her visit was the President of UNICEF Canada, Nigel Fisher. As a UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNICEF Regional Director prior to joining the Canadian national committee, Mr. Fisher has headed up emergency responses in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other places. What I see is much less activity here. People with almost nothing are getting very little help, said Mr. Fisher. In the whole day in Gonaïves, we didnt see one pump. We didnt see any heavy equipment to move the dirt and the mud. So the people are pretty much on their own. To date, UNICEF and other humanitarian aid groups have delivered over 1,000 metric tonnes of food and non-food supplies to Gonaïves. UNICEF and its partners are also working to help find secure shelter for families in need. But only a small fraction of the funding requested from a UN flash appeal for Haiti has been pledged. In this video, Miss Farrow shares her thoughts on the response to Haiti's hurricane disaster. To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_45708.html

Pierre Brunache, Jr of Vyalex Global talks about this project to create new markets for rural farmers associated with 50 farmer associations working in Western Haiti in order to increase returns on investment for agro-industry entrepreneurs, decrease waste from unsold products and increase national production.

GONAÏVES, Haiti, 22 September 2008 Looking down from helicopter at the devastation wrought by a month of hurricanes and catastrophic flooding, actress Mia Farrow made an immediate comparison. I thought of the tsunami and those terrible images, said the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, referring to the Indian Ocean disaster almost four years ago. All over town, its like a big SOS, said Ms. Farrow. People around the world responded so generously to the tsunami, and Im wondering why we havent responded as generously to the Haitian disaster, especially with Haiti one hour from our shores [in the United States]. This is happening right in our own backyard. To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_45708.html

haiti for change

The UN's world food program has tripled the amount of food aid going into Haiti after storms created flooding and devastation there. But, as Kelly Cobiella reports, it's still not enough.

Canada is helping Haiti get food and water to thousands of villagers stranded and without supplies after recent storms. (Sept. 19)

Actor Matt Damon and hip hop musician Wyclef Jean are in Haiti to help relief efforts and hand out supplies in the disaster-struck zone. (Sept. 15)

S.O.S benefit concert for haiti was a failure

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, 5 September 2008 -- Over 200 people are dead and nearly 600,000 urgently need help after a series of storms that have battered Haiti over the past three weeks, according to UN officials. And there may be more storms to come. Tropical Storm Hanna left the city of Gonaives flooded and residents stranded on their rooftops. It was the third major storm to hit the Caribbean in less than 21 days. Prior to Hanna, Hurricane Gustav terrorized the region. According to the Cuban Government, Gustav was the strongest hurricane to hit Cuba in more than 50 years. Thus far in Haiti, the World Food Programme and UNICEF have mobilized 7.5 metric tons of food and 60,000 litres of potable water ready to be transported by sea to the affected population. But according to UNICEF Haiti Communication Officer Louis-Etienne Vigneault, access to the region has been nearly impossible. "The first thing that really hits the population -- the women and the children -- is access to water and shelter," said UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault. "Usually, a huge hurricane will destroy very basic poor-people's shelter." To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_45510.html