19968: Bellegarde-Smith: Cuba's role in Haiti -- an unreported story (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: P D Bellegarde-Smith <pbs@csd.uwm.edu>


Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 22:42:33 -0600
From: Art Heitzer <aheitzer@igc.org>
Subject: Cuba's role in Haiti -- an unreported story

"If [this is]  proof of what a small and
blockaded country is able to do for Haiti, other States
with huge economic and financial resources will be able to
do even more in terms of providing cooperation and official
development assistance for this brotherly Caribbean
country."  Cuba's Representative in the UN Debate, 2/26

Though this is now a week old, and the situation has
changed since Washington's overthrow of Pres. Aristede,
here is a comprehensive survey of Cuban activity
in Haiti. This is now all the more important following
Aristide's overthrow. A humanitarian crisis is obviously
in the making and the role of Cuban medical staff have
become more important than ever. Read this carefully
and pass it on widely. These are vital facts virtually
completely omitted from the major US media coverage
from which Haiti has now vanished from front pages.

Walter Lippmann, CubaNews list moderator
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
=======================================================

STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC
OF CUBA, AMBASSADOR ORLANDO REQUEIJO GUAL, AT THE OPEN
DEBATE OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN HAITI.
NEW YORK, 26 FEBRUARY 2004.

Mr. President,

Cuba is following with attention and concern the current
events taking place in Haiti, a brotherly Caribbean country
we are linked to by close historical bonds.

Cooperating with Haiti becomes a duty to all of us. Let us
not forget that the struggle of our Caribbean and Latin
American peoples for their freedom started right there 200
years ago.

The international community should help Haiti in this
crucial moment of its history. The old problems derived
from colonialism and exploitation are compounded by new,
pressing difficulties relating to the unjust and excluding
international economic order.

Cuba has abided by and will strictly abide by its
principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of
any country, including Haiti.

We support the efforts of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM), for the achievement of a peaceful and just
settlement as regards the current situation in Haiti. We
firmly condemn all acts of violence taking place in that
country and regret the ongoing casualties and material
damages.

The personnel of Cuban collaborators, currently in Haiti,
abide by and will strictly abide by the principle of not
interfering in the internal affairs of this country.

This personnel's security should be fully guaranteed, as
well as, the integrity of the Cuban Embassy and its
personnel remaining in Port-au-Prince.

Mr. President,

Cuban collaborators continue working in their positions in
Haiti, despite the critical situation in the country. Cuban
doctors, particularly, continue to assist on an ongoing
basis the Haitian population who needs it so much nowadays.

As we speak, Cuba has a medical brigade in Haiti composed
of 525 cooperators, 332 of which are doctors. They are
scattered in all of the country's departments and are
responsible for 75% of the 8.3 million Haitians. In order
to have an idea of the importance of their work, it must be
known that Haiti relies on fewer than 2,000 physicians and
almost 90% of them render their services in the capital of
the country.

In the last five years, the Cuban doctors have seen nearly
5 million Haitians in medical appointments, assisted almost
45,000 deliveries and performed 59,000 surgeries. In the
areas covered by the Cuban doctors, the infant mortality
rate in children under 1 year of age has dropped from 80 to
28 per 1,000 live births - and in children under 5 years of
age, the rate has fallen from 159 to 39 per 1,000 live
births. The maternal mortality rate dropped from 523 deaths
to 259 per 100,000 live births. In these years, over
370,000 people - 80% children - have been immunized. It is
estimated that nearly 86,000 human lives have been saved by
the Cuban health workers in Haiti. However, to have an idea
of how much work needs to be done, I must recall that in
Cuba, for example, the infant mortality rate in children
under 1 year of age is 6.3 per 1,000; in children under 5
years of age is 8 per 1,000 and the maternal mortality rate
is 39 per 100,000.

In light of the current domestic tensions in that brotherly
country - which are known to you and which caused the
departure of a number of foreign residents - last Tuesday
the 10th, our Government gave express instructions to our
Embassy in Port-au-Prince to maintain in their positions,
working on an ongoing basis, all the members of the Cuban
medical brigade, anywhere in the country where these may
be.

Besides, given the obstacles that may arise in the
availability of medications, on the 11th, Cuba sent a
shipment of 12.2 tons, including 525 special sets of nearly
80 medications so that each Cuban medical cooperator can
guarantee the fulfillment of their tasks. The Cuban medical
personnel - that strictly abides by the principle of not
interfering in the internal affairs of Haiti - is honorably
complying with their noble mission of tending to the health
of the Haitian people.

On the other hand, some 2,169 broken-down medical devices
were repaired by the Cuban technicians.

Twenty Cuban professors are providing advisory services for
a radio-based literacy program that has been designed by
our specialists. Some 110,000 Haitians have already become
literate - and the program will continue to grow. Cuba also
donated the teaching materials, including the handbooks in
French and Creole. A total of 247 Haitian youths are
currently studying in the Medical School founded in such
country by Cuban professors, while another 372 are enrolled
on medical scholarships in Cuba, whose universities are
currently accommodating over 3000 Caribbean youths.

The Cuban technical assistance was instrumental in the
reconstruction of the sugar mill of Darbonne, currently in
its fourth sugar harvest with the support of 30 Cuban
specialists. The sugar mill generates employment for 2000
people and guarantees electricity supply during the harvest
period for a population of 5000 families of the area.

Twenty Cuban veterinarians and technicians are putting in
place a sanitary control program and training Haitian
staff; another 10 technicians are helping consolidate the
national aquaculture program, for which Cuba has freely
delivered 42 million larvae already planted in the
country's dams and has also trained specialized personnel
in this area. Another 11 Cuban agricultural specialists are
also working in Haiti as part of FAO's Food Security
Program. Our country is also cooperating in other areas,
such as culture and road construction.

Mr. President,

If all of the above is a proof of what a small and
blockaded country is able to do for Haiti, other States
with huge economic and financial resources will be able to
do even more in terms of providing cooperation and official
development assistance for this brotherly Caribbean
country.

The people of Cuba, particularly, feel that they are
fulfilling their duty and also honoring a debt of gratitude
to the peoples of the Caribbean, that have been so
steadfast in their unflinching friendship and solidarity
towards Cuba.

Once again, we reiterate Cuba's steadfast intention to
continue contributing, with all possible means within its
reach, to fulfilling a peaceful, just and lasting solution
to the situation in Haiti. It is our hope that given the
serious situation this brotherly country is undergoing, the
United Nations together with the international community
will manage to rise to the occasion as it deserves.

Thank you very much.

SOURCE: MINREX http://makeashorterlink.com/?N4C222C97