Eighteen months after its creation, the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF) continues to receive additional contributions to finance the reconstruction. The latest contributions received amounted to USD$50 million and bring the total raised from the 19 donors to USD$392 million.

Over the last three months of 2011, four donors have signed additional contributions. France has pledged to pay an additional €17 million(equivalent to 21.9 million dollars), Norway NOK74 million (equivalent to 12.4 million dollars), the United States USD$5 million supplementary and Finland $0.7 million (the equivalent of 0.9 million dollars).

According to Josef Leitmann, manager of FRH "additional generous contributions indicate a renewed confidence in the reconstruction of Haiti by the international community."

"The desire of France is that these funds be used to cover the budget of the Republic of Haiti," explains Yves Malpel, director of the French Development Agency in Haiti.

The HRF has also received in December 2011, the second slice of the contribution of Spain USD$7 million bringing the total contributions of Spain to USD$20 million. Spain has expressed the same wish as France.

"Finland remains very committed to the reconstruction of Haiti based on the priorities of government (Haiti), funded by the Fund and is satisfied with the good performance of the Fund," declared Ms Heidi Hautala, the Minister of International Development of Finland.

HL/ HaitiLibre