The French Ambassador to Haiti, Antoine Michon, recently completed an eight-day tour of the Sud, Nippes, and Sud-Est departments, specifically the municipalities of Les Cayes, Camp-Perrin, Saint Louis du Sud, Aquin, Paillant, Miragoâne, and Jacmel.

He took the opportunity to visit several projects funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and implemented by various NGOs.

City of Les Cayes :

In the city of Les Cayes, the Ambassador visited the Immaculate Conception Hospital (HIC), where France is providing €8 million through the French Development Agency (AFD) to renovate the maternity and pediatric units through the "Ti Mama 2" project.

He visited Daphnée Claire France, Mayor of Les Cayes, to discuss the situation in the municipality, the reception of displaced persons from Port-au-Prince, France's support for the hospital, and the rehabilitation of the fire station.

Camps-Perrin :

In Camp-Perrin, he participated in the laying of the foundation stone for the Bananier school extension, which will house three additional classrooms and a multipurpose room built to meet earthquake and hurricane-resistant standards. This project is led by Solidarité Laïque with the support of the AFD to ensure safe and equitable access to education.

The French diplomat visited a biofortified corn flour processing unit https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45214-haiti-school-canteens-donation-of-processing-equipment-from-france.html . A donation from France to the Organization for Environmental Rehabilitation (ORE) will support corn producers who are partners in the national school canteen program.

Saint-Louis du Sud :

In Saint-Louis du Sud, Ambassador Michon visited the site of a mangrove restoration project in Mesle Bay, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45237-haiti-news-zapping.html , an initiative supported by the Haitian Biodiversity Fund, which is financed by the AFD to the tune of €11 million. This ecosystem is essential to the preservation of coastal biodiversity and constitutes a natural barrier against flooding, in a context of high vulnerability to climate hazards.

Aquin :

In Aquin, the Ambassador met with municipal authorities to discuss the situation there before visiting the site of the Southern Irrigation Support Project (PAIS), which aims to improve access to water resources and the efficiency of their agricultural use in six small irrigated areas in the Plaine d'Aquin and Plaine des Cayes. AFD is providing €13 million in financing for the construction of water intakes on two rivers and more than 15 km of irrigation canals across 1,500 hectares, thereby increasing the incomes of small producers from farming communities practicing family agriculture. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44586-haiti-cooperation-tour-of-the-southern-region-of-projects-financed-by-france.html

Salagnac :

In Salagnac, in the commune of Paillant, a historic site of Franco-Haitian cooperation, the Ambassador visited a project led by the NGO "Un enfant par la main" (A Child by the Hand), which supports farming communities in crop diversification, the construction of rainwater tanks, and reforestation. These projects combine agricultural development, social support, and environmental protection. This initiative has revived the tradition of welcoming young Haitian agronomists who come to study agricultural practices in this mountainous region. In addition, the NGO Groupe d'Action Francophone pour l'Environnement (GAFE) trains students in environmental protection.

Nippes :

In Miragoâne, Nippes, the French diplomat participated in the delivery of contingency kits (first aid and emergency) to students from ten public schools located in rural areas and to the Civil Protection Department to prepare for the hurricane season https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45258-haiti-news-zapping.html . This initiative, led by the NGO Solidarité Laïque with funding from the AFD, aims to better prepare children and teachers for natural hazards in vulnerable regions.

Jacmel :

The final stop on his tour was in the Jacmel Valley, where he visited a project led by Habitat-cité, which works to promote the right to housing, secure land tenure, and improve housing conditions in rural areas. Also in Jacmel, he met with the French community and staff of the Alliance Française and the Albiciade Pommayrac Center, two historic centers of cooperation, to highlight the role of culture and language in dialogue and shared action to promote cooperation.

The French Ambassador to Haiti, Antoine Michon thanks everyone he met during his stay for their warm welcome. He also thanks all the authorities for the warm welcome he received throughout his stay, which demonstrates the vitality of the cultural and historical ties that unite Haiti and France, as well as France's commitment to the development of the country's provinces and local communities.

SL/ Haitilibre