30166: Sprague (News) Venezuela creates USD 20 million humanitarian fund for Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: J.Sprague



Venezuela creates USD 20 million humanitarian fund for Haiti
http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/03/07/en_eco_art_07A842375.shtml


The Venezuelan Government has created a USD 20 million "humanitarian
fund" for Haiti intended to finance social, infrastructure and energy
projects, said the state-owned Economic and Social Development Bank
(Bandes).

Through the fund "resources will be readily available to fight
poverty and find solutions in a number of priority areas" for Haiti,
said in a communiqué Bandes President Rafael Isea Romero, as quoted
by Efe.

The fund is "intended to implement cooperation programs in priority
areas such as education, power generation, drinkable water, housing,
landfills, alimentary security, supply of fuels, among others."

Haiti officially joined Venezuela-Caribbean oil holding Petrocaribe
in 2006 and entered into a number of cooperation agreements with
Venezuela, including an instrument under which Caracas undertakes to
give Haiti 120,000 tons of asphalt on a monthly basis during one year.