15939: Karshan: UN Deputy Secretary criticizes press for not exposing humanitarian crisis/Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Radio National, June 3, 2003 (Translated by BBC Monitoring)

Kenzo Oshima, UN deputy secretary general for humanitarian affairs, ended his
official two-day visit to Haiti on Friday, 13 June. He said that he had noted
that a very serious humanitarian crisis was developing in Haitian society and
that the media are keeping silent about it. Increasing unemployment, young
children dying of diseases, and AIDS are some of the indicators of this
humanitarian crisis that strikes mostly women and children. He pointed out that it is
the government's responsibility to solve these problems even though he
acknowledges that the government is facing many economic difficulties. He added that
he would like the people of Haiti to know that the international community has
not forgotten them. He also said that he was going to ask the donating
countries to increase their contributions so that it can strengthen its programmes
in Haiti. During his visit to Haiti, Oshima met with Prime Minister Yvon
Neptune, Foreign Minister Joseph Philippe Antonio, representatives of the donating
countries, and several local and international nongovernmental organization,
NGO, representatives. (7 min)