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UN anti-cholera plan in Haiti 'failing' | UN anti-cholera plan in Haiti 'failing' |
(41 minutes later) | |
UN efforts to tackle cholera in Haiti are "almost non-existent", a charity says, as the world body faces court action for inadvertently starting a cholera epidemic in the country. | UN efforts to tackle cholera in Haiti are "almost non-existent", a charity says, as the world body faces court action for inadvertently starting a cholera epidemic in the country. |
Late last year, the UN launched a $2.2bn-appeal (£1.5bn) to improve water supplies in Haiti. | Late last year, the UN launched a $2.2bn-appeal (£1.5bn) to improve water supplies in Haiti. |
But Medecins Sans Frontieres says this has had almost no practical effect. | But Medecins Sans Frontieres says this has had almost no practical effect. |
The UN is accused of negligently allowing peacekeeping soldiers to pollute Haiti's water with cholera. | The UN is accused of negligently allowing peacekeeping soldiers to pollute Haiti's water with cholera. |
The epidemic, which is spread by infected sewage, has killed more than 8,000 people since late 2010. | The epidemic, which is spread by infected sewage, has killed more than 8,000 people since late 2010. |
'Alarming' situation | 'Alarming' situation |
"There have been grand plans - a 10-year $2.2bn project," Duncan McClean, a senior manager for MSF, told the BBC. | "There have been grand plans - a 10-year $2.2bn project," Duncan McClean, a senior manager for MSF, told the BBC. |
But the UN plan had not been implemented, he added. | But the UN plan had not been implemented, he added. |
"I travel regularly to Haiti; the impact on the ground today is almost non-existent." | "I travel regularly to Haiti; the impact on the ground today is almost non-existent." |
The UN plan to improve drinking water and sewage outlets - which MSF says is unfulfilled - was widely seen as the international body's attempt to deflect calls by the victims of cholera for financial compensation. | The UN plan to improve drinking water and sewage outlets - which MSF says is unfulfilled - was widely seen as the international body's attempt to deflect calls by the victims of cholera for financial compensation. |
The multibillion dollar compensation claim is unprecedented in UN history. | The multibillion dollar compensation claim is unprecedented in UN history. |
The UN says it has legal immunity from the compensation case; the mission in Haiti generally declines to comment on the matter - saying it is in the hands of UN lawyers. | The UN says it has legal immunity from the compensation case; the mission in Haiti generally declines to comment on the matter - saying it is in the hands of UN lawyers. |
The BBC has sought a UN comment on the MSF allegation about the failings of the UN cholera plan, but has not yet received one. | The BBC has sought a UN comment on the MSF allegation about the failings of the UN cholera plan, but has not yet received one. |
Lawyers for the cholera victims say that unless talks on compensation begin in the next few weeks, they will take the UN to court in New York. | Lawyers for the cholera victims say that unless talks on compensation begin in the next few weeks, they will take the UN to court in New York. |
MSF said the cholera situation in Haiti was currently "extremely alarming". The rainy season had begun - causing the usual flooding of infected open sewers - while donor countries had reduced aid commitments. | MSF said the cholera situation in Haiti was currently "extremely alarming". The rainy season had begun - causing the usual flooding of infected open sewers - while donor countries had reduced aid commitments. |