13484: Karshan: Financial Embargo on Haiti = More Refugees to Florida (PRNewswire) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Relentless International Financial Embargo Produces More Refugees to South
Florida


WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The arrival yesterday of approximately
200 refugees by boat in South Florida again demonstrates the impact that an
onerous international financial embargo of desperately needed development
assistance can have on Haiti, the most impoverished country in the Western
Hemisphere.

Now in its second year, the international financial aid embargo, led
primarily by the US, has devastated the Haitian economy and left a population
of 8 million people lacking basic health care, education and critical
infrastructure.  Despite repeated humanitarian episodes such as yesterday's,
the international financial institutions, including the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund (IMF), continue to deny basic humanitarian loans
and grants to Haiti and are showing little, if any, intent to reopen those
funding channels.

"What happened yesterday in South Florida is a direct result of an economy
that is being strangled by an embargo imposed by the international financial
community," said former Congressman Ron Dellums.

Over the past 18 months, the World Bank has closed its offices in Haiti and
discontinued all programs with the country, with no new proposals in the
pipeline.  The European Union is currently withholding $350 million in
international aid and while the Inter-American Development Bank is now
working to reinstate humanitarian development assistance loans totaling $146
million by the end of the year, the reality is that it will take months
before any funds arrive in Haiti.  The IMF has yet to enter into an agreement
with the Government of Haiti.

"It should be no surprise that the economic chaos created by the
international financial embargo would force people to flee Haiti," said Ira
Kurzban, a well-known immigration expert and an attorney for the Government
of Haiti.  "Rather than let Haitians drown at sea or starve at home, the
international financial community should be taking immediate action to resume
its support for economic recovery.

"In light of this embargo, the Immigration and Naturalization Service should
treat the Haitians fleeing the current economic crisis in Haiti with dignity
and respect," Kurzban said.  "They should not be detained as the U.S.
Government does not detain similarly situated persons."

"If there is ever a time for the US to show that it cares about the interests
of both Haiti and America, it is now," said former Congressman Dellums.  "We
hope that the U.S. Government will show leadership on this issue and work
with the global aid organizations to give Haitians, both rich and poor, real
opportunity and hope.  Eventually, it will be bold leadership that will best
resolve the refugee matter."

This material is distributed by Downey McGrath Group, Inc., on behalf of the
Government of Haiti.  Additional information is available at the Department
of Justice, Washington, DC.

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SOURCE  Downey McGrath Group, Inc.

CO:  Downey McGrath Group, Inc.

ST:  District of Columbia, Florida, Haiti

SU:

http://www.prnewswire.com

10/30/2002 14:19 EST