U.S. Senator John F. Kerry, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today released a report on Haitian President René Préval’s handling of earthquake recovery efforts. The report is critical of Mr. Préval’s reconstruction leadership, noting that “key decisions remain in flux and critical humanitarian issues related to shelter and resettlement are not resolved.”
The international community has also voiced concerns, particularly at the UN Security Council, that promises of aid by some countries for recovery assistance may not fully materialize.
This is not the first time that U.S. lawmakers have criticized the Haitian government’s handling of the post-earthquake rebuilding process. Earlier this month Senator Richard Lugar, also on the Foreign Relations Committee, urged President Préval to move more aggressively on reconstruction so as not to lose the confidence of the United States.