World Bank donates $25 million to help rebuild beleaguered Haiti

The World Bank today announced $25 million in additional emergency grants for Haiti to support recovery and rebuilding efforts, and strengthen its capacity to cope with natural disasters, in the wake of a devastating series of storms that hit the Caribbean country.

The grants will fund rebuilding of major bridges and rehabilitation work on key infrastructure destroyed between mid-August and September, as Haiti was battered by a quick succession of four tropical storms and hurricanes, displacing or directly affecting 800,000 people.

“Haiti must be given a chance. The international community needs to step up to the challenge and support the efforts of the Haitian Government and its people,” said the World Bank Group President, Robert B. Zoellick.

“This $25 million grant is part of the Bank’s support for Haiti’s development, and in particular, for its recovery following the devastating impact of Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike,” added Mr. Zoellick, who plans to visit the country later this month.

The funding will also support existing programmes aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the nation – already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere – vulnerability to natural disasters and strengthen its ability to respond to them, according to a press release issued by the World Bank.

In the last three years the Bank had approved $240 million in assistance to Haiti, including a recent $10 million emergency grant (Global Programme) to help the Government respond to the food crisis.