Topic:
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: Jasmine Mand
After gaining independence from France, Haiti is suffering from violence, corruption, epidemics, and economic crisis. On January 10, 2010, Haiti experienced a detrimental earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude. This earthquake killed 220,000 people and left 1 million others homeless and in need of humanitarian aid. There was a loss of communication and roads were blocked with debris. The United Nations Security Council created the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to assist with this crisis. Unfortunately, the MINUSTAH peacekeepers caused an inflammation in cholera. This epidemic worsened the situation in Haiti, driving for more humanitarian aid. After the forces were gone, Haiti became the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. People suffered from being below the poverty line and only having farming as a source of income and food. The United Nations helped by donating 13 billion dollars for international aid, but that did not reduce the size of the situation by much. The economic crisis seems to get worse as tourism declines and President Moise gets assassinated because of political corruption. This has put armed gangs in control which resulted in human trafficking and sexual assault. This has also resulted in many humanitarian aid workers being harassed and putting their safety in danger. Brazil is concerned with this issue and committed to finding a solution, working with the Security Council.
The Federative Republic is deeply concerned with the current situation in Haiti. In 2010, after the earthquake, Brazil opened up humanitarian visas to help facilitate migration. They donated $15 million for humanitarian assistance, and Brazil signed an agreement with IOM to help process the Brazil Visa Application Centre (BVAC). This helped distribute 54,000 visas. About 200,000 Haitians were registered in Brazil. Unfortunately, Brazil does suffer from an economic crisis as there are too many people in need of humanitarian aid. The Federative Republic of Brazil also would like to assist in training the police force in Haiti. In the past, Brazil has sent 30,000 soldiers to aid with violence. Also, in 2010 they became the first country to contribute to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF), donating $55 million. Brazil believes it is necessary to have foreign interference like the MINUSTAH to protect the Haitian people from violence. Brazilian operations provided some peace to the dangerous neighborhoods in Haiti. Another crisis in Haiti is health care, and Brazil has Donated 15,000 vaccine doses against human rabies. They have also distributed 361 tons of drugs and medical supplies to epidemiologists during this rough time in Haiti. We are also willing to help donate to NGOs like the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) which are trying to impact areas of development and healthcare. Trying to solve this situation requires all countries to come together.
Brazil believes that all countries need to come together and try to fund and donate to the Haitian people. Countries can also pair up with NGOs that help distribute healthcare products like vaccines for epidemics. Also, strict protocol needs to occur when humanitarian aid arrives like sanitization and safety routes that avoid conflict with gangs. Building safehouses and shelter systems for people that aid can help with protecting them. Regarding the situation with violence, military troops and police forces from several countries need to assist Haiti. Even setting up more refugee camps can aid the displaced people.
