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One of the hurdles is that the State Department has to prove that any funds provided won't be misused or stolen. This is difficult for a country like Haiti, where corruption is a very serious concern.
A special oversight committee had been put in place to ensure that reconstruction in Haiti would be done efficiently. Former President Bill Clinton is co-chair of the committee. Apparently, Clinton's presence is not enough to overcome the challenge of getting the funds to the Haitian people.
The earthquake that devastated Haiti took place 10 months ago. Since that time, 230,000 people have lost their homes. A total of $1.1 billion in U.S. aid has been delivered, mostly for emergency medical care and rescue services.
To date, more than a million Haitians are forced to live in temporary shelter. Also, much of the damage has remained unremoved since the earthquake took place. There has been a recent outbreak of cholera as well, which has killed more than 440 people and caused thousands more to become dangerously ill. To make matters worse, tropical storm Tomas is threatening to become a hurricane, putting the lives of countless Haitians in danger.
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Support for the Haitian people must be done with an eye for long-term development of this devastated nation. The creation of additional infrastructure should be key, with the focus being on providing better roads, electricity, education and all the things that support a nation's growth. Additionally, it is shameful that the U.S. government's disorganization has undermined the chances of survival for millions of people. In light of the racialized political climate we now have in Washington, one must be hardly surprised that black Haitian people have not been made into a priority. We should be better than that.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (10)
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By: ohmanthisiscrazy on 11/08/2010 11:01AM
While my heart goes out to those in Haiti that are suffering, instead of giving them money, someone needs to go over there and teach them how to survive. The U.S has every right to be reluctant to send them any money. We have sent them billions of dollars and nothing has changed. Instead of complaining that the U.S isnt helping them fast enough, Dr. Boyce should be asking why they cant seem to manage a stable government since they kicked out the french. I hate to see fellow blacks suffer but sometimes I have to call it like I see it.
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By: Don Insell on 11/09/2010 3:36PM
It seems this comment is another example of stupid remarks made in light of the comment.....the US Government took control of the aid for Haiti.....1.1 billion dollars of this aid has been spent for the voluntary services of those humanitarian who arrived with guns to dispense goods.....average Haitian earns 700 dollars a year if they have job, most don't......but when USA arrived this aid that suppose to be free, it seems was not.....maybe the USA paid the salaries of all of the assistance they gave from this fund.....it is not possible that 1.1Billion dollars was spent of the people......no agency has even been setup to handle medical conditions.....so where did the money go......watch out.....all the volunteered money sent by country and people will all be gone and the haitian people will still be living in tents.......ASK FOR ACCOUNTING OF FUNDS.....BE LIKE THE MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE GONE TO IRAQ.....DISAPPEARED....NO ACCOUNTABILITY.....ONLY YOU RECEIVE WORDS,BUT NO PROOF.....SEEMS FUNNY THAT THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN....usa TAKES CONTROL AND MONEY DISAPPEARS....HOW DID IT HAPPEN, BY BOAT, AIRPLANE, SUBMARINE.....WITH ARMED AMERICANS WATCHING.....GIVE THE PEOPLE A BREAK.....WHAT IS HAPPENING IS CRIMINAL AND MONEY IS GONE, NOTHING IS DONE AND NO ONE GOES TO JAIL.....NO ROOM FOR REAL CROOKS AND MURDERS......NOT EVEN PROSECUTION......BE CAREFUL, NOTHING IS FREE IN AMERICA BUT TEARS BY THOSE WHO ARE STEALING THIS COUNTRY DRY........AND OFCOURSE.....I'M SO SORRY, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!
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By: sheryl on 11/09/2010 5:38PM
I have traveled to Haiti on mission trips many time funding myself. I have many friend that live there and although we tons of monies were collected for earthquake relief and that monies has yet to reach the ppl. I feel sorry for the ppl that would steal from ppl that are already in a bad situation. But I remembered that God said He would make the high low and the low will be made high. In my travel there. I witness the love that the haitian ppl so freely show and receive. They are so in touch with their neighbors and family. Unlike us here in America.
Haitian came out slavery many years before we did. Yes the country is in a bad state. But it anything to big for God to repair?
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By: jean on 11/08/2010 12:39PM
don't even think about handing over the $1.15 billions dallars to the haitian so-called leaders in haiti the money will disappeared they can't wait to get their hands on that money the haitian people won't see a dime like always u.s should use the money and build the country themselve these so-called haitian leaders don't give a damn about their own people corrupt goverment always have always will be a corrupt dysfunctional goverment everybody knows it
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By: Pink on 11/08/2010 1:28PM
What has happened to the money that has made it over to Haiti??
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By: Ronnie Andre Simone Stephens on 11/09/2010 9:57AM
U know i want to go over there as a outreach worker in the Aids/HIV field and help do something 4 our people i was dope up thru the Katrina event and did not even know what had happened and end up in prison for 2 years with a crime i did not do in Austin Texas came back and worked in the field any way to get over it and the White House Wellness Center fired me 4 only working 20 hours so i know they would be great ful for to have half of what i have Recover and Reentry is possible but we still have 2 use the back door here in Austin but i wanna go where i'm need at God is good but working in the Black community here in Texas period is horrible we abused or own kind and still have to use the back door here in Austin Texas we to buzy eating at 2 piece Tuedsay and for got the dream Reach on and Teach on and Save one
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By: soundoff on 11/09/2010 1:48PM
Frankly who really gives a flying brick about them realy now we already sent billions over there what next they want us to move there and save the needy they need to learn some structural things masonary,construction,doctors,lawyers things of meaning we just can not continue to take care of these needy people they need to do it on their own I feel bad for the suffering of innocent people but the story speaks for it self their government is not on their job maybe wyes clef should have ran for president maybe change is good.
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By: eldohill on 11/10/2010 11:24AM
Are you surprised, Haiti is a black country, and now that the republicans are in charge there is no telling when they will get any money or help and if they do get any mony it won't be the 1.5 million dollars. Remember back in the 80's when Cubans were leaving Cuba and they were greeted by the US with open arms, during that same time Haitians were leaving Haiti and were met by the us coast guard and turned around and sent back to Haiti, now in South Florida Cubans own it with the U S blessing, the Hatians that live in South Florida are truly a minority living in slums, Question: who was the President at that time in the 80's: Ronald Regan who was a republican and the Republicans controlled one house in congress. I rest my case.
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By: dawggybon on 11/12/2010 7:49AM
Doc Boy, what have you sent to Haiti? What are the blacks doing in Haiti to help themselves? What did Katrina evacuees do to help themselves other than rant that noone was helping them? They were relocated, housed, fed, clothed and given money. What thanks did any of these societal rejects give to the thousands and thousands of people around the country that helped? None. Sat around on their fat asses complaining that others were not doing enough for them. Generation to generation welfare recipients nursing the government (taxpayer)teat. Shamelessly sticking your hand in other peoples pocket and spewing your hateful rascist crap from cradle to grave.Living on other people's money and reproducing like rats to get a bigger check and biting the white hand that feeds far to many of you!
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By: dawggybon on 11/19/2010 12:50PM
Haiti reminds me of the aftermath of Katrina when thousands of these taxpayer supported animals were flushed out of the city and evacuated to unsuspecting communities all over the U.S. demanding handouts and howling at the moon that other people were not doing more for them. Crime statistics rocketed where this human waste landed. Sitting on their asses, destroying everything they came in contact with and bitching about the inconvenience, their treatment and waiting for the gov't to give them other peoples money. Made me realize that we have an incredibly high number of absolute scum and crud that lives from cradle to grave on the gov't (taxpayer) teat. Get off your fat, lazy welfare addicted asses and clean your s#%t up and try to be productive members of society that are not a burden on the rest of us. Disgusting!
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