Pan-African solidarity with Haiti

Press Release

22 January 2010, Johannesburg

The earthquake that recently struck Haiti has caused unprecedented devastation and suffering to the country and its people. Thursday’s aftershock aggravated an already grave humanitarian crisis.

Across Africa, government, church, business and civil society leaders are mobilising support for the people of Haiti. In South Africa, CIVICUS and its partners, African Monitor, Trust Africa, the Southern Africa Trust, Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) Southern Africa, the South African Red Cross Society; the National Welfare Forum; and Ivan May through 1485 Radio Today on 1484 AM in Jozi and through SADC (also DStv 169), and the Synergos Institute have agreed to join what is known as the “Africa for Haiti Project” and to help in coordinating efforts.

The project has the support of Church, business and civil society leaders including Mrs Graca Machel, Archbishops Desmond Tutu, Njongonkulu Ndungane, Malusi Mpulwana and businessman Trevor Ncube.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation hosted a press conference at its offices in Houghton on 22 January where more details were provided about the Africa for Haiti Project.

The Africa for Haiti Project will identify, in partnership with Haitian civil society organizations, initiatives in which it can assist. It also hopes to provide Africans from all walks of life an opportunity to demonstrate their collective solidarity and support for the people of Haiti thereby uniting Africans in compassion and giving.

Addressing the press conference Mrs Machel suggested that the Africa for Haiti Team Project focuses its efforts on reconstruction in Haiti. The objective of this campaign is not to provide immediate relief but rather to contribute toward the medium to long-term reconstruction of communities in Haiti.  As a result, it is estimated that fundraising for this campaign may continue for 12 months or longer.

The Project also aims to unite individuals, NGOs and corporates alike across Africa for this cause by disseminating information and enlisting support from their extensive networks to promote it.

Message of support from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu:

“We were supported wonderfully by the International Community when we struggled against the vicious policy of apartheid. Today the people of Haiti, struck twice by the earthquake, are in a worse predicament than we were. As South Africans, we especially cannot but want to do our bit to alleviate the immense suffering of our sisters and brothers in Haiti. I welcome the initiative by Graca Machel and others. It deserves our wholehearted and very generous support.”

Statement from Archbishop Ndungane

Haiti’s worst earthquake that struck the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country on the 12th of January brought sadness and shock.

As the people of Africa, we identify with and feel for the people of Haiti, particularly because of our own experience of the devastation of poverty. We comprehend that this earthquake has exacerbated an already desperate situation.

When a brother or sister is in need, it is incumbent upon all of us to pool our resources to assist. The African Monitor family and I are solidly behind the ‘Africa for Haiti’ initiative, which seeks to assist the people of Haiti to recover from the destruction and devastation left by the earthquake.

As Africa, we have been recipients of help in our time of need and we appreciate how this can alleviate desperate situations.

Our continent can also make a big contribution towards restoring Haitian people through inner healing of hearts and memories for the traumatized people. This given that notwithstanding our own psychologically devastating past, we have picked up the pieces, healed and moved forward.

I therefore appeal to Africans from all walks of life to take this as a call to action and an opportunity to verify to ourselves how we are people with proven love, compassion and sensitivity, particularly in times of need.

With every good wish and blessing

Grace and Peace
Archbishop Njongo Ndungane

For more information contact:
Buhle Mpofu-Makamanzi
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EMAIL: buhle@africanmonitor.org
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