On Tuesday, Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, chaired a working session about the governmental action plan to fight against extreme poverty, surrounded by, among others, Thomas Jacques, Minister of Agriculture, Marie Carmelle Rose Anne Auguste, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, in charge of human rights and the fight against extreme poverty and Klauss Eberwein, the Director-General of Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), the Head of Government passed in review all social projects in favor of Haitian people during the fiscal year 2012-2013.

This session was also an opportunity for the Prime Minister to reaffirm its commitment to act in favor of the most vulnerable in helping them to live in dignity. Too, he stressed the need for all members of the government team, to continue to give, in all circumstances, the priority to the collective interest.

Recalling that combating poverty and closer more of the MDGs is the priority of the Government, which, during the previous year, has made significant disbursements to achieve price stabilization of strategic products on the national market. More than 200 million U.S. dollars have been committed.

"Through the social assistance program 'Ede Pèp' $44.6 million was spent for nearly 2.1 million beneficiaries. 775,000 'panye solidarite' were able to be distributed, while 1.2 million hot meals were served to the needy population in the ten departments."

In addition, thousands of women have benefited from the program "Bourad ekonomik, kore fanm lakay".

The Prime Minister stressed that these efforts participated in the Government's strategy, established over three years to reduce poverty in the country. He indicated that a database was being constituted by the FAES, with a view to improving the state intervention in favor of the poorest. To this end, more than 12,000 households out of a total of 2 million have been recorded according 24 criteria determined by the Government.

For the new fiscal year, Prime Minister Lamothe, ordered to adopt the benefit of emergency in regard to the disbursement of funds to support government social programs, including "Kore peyizan" which should enable to support the autumn agricultural season in order to strengthen domestic production and fight against food insecurity.

In order to strengthen its activities in the field and preserve the gains, the Government has revised upwards the funds to be invested in social programs for the period 2013-2014.

HL/ HaitiLibre