Open Letter To The World Food Program And Its “Work” In Haiti

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Editor’s Note: As of this morning the World Food Program changed the figure on their website of the number of Haitians they have reached for food aid from 3.2 million to 3.7 million.

Dear Josette Sheeran, World Food Program Executive Director:

The World Food Program claims on its website that it has reached over 3.2 million people in Haiti. Such statistic is highly questionable and laughable at best. Being on the ground for three weeks in Haiti, I investigated the food distribution efforts in the country by the WFP and it is very irresponsible that you are taking credit for something that you simply haven’t done.

President Bill Clinton visited Haiti recently and he even admitted to serious bottlenecks in the distribution of aid by your organization. Citing poor infrastructure, President Clinton mentioned to me that the World Food Program was being “stretched” by the 16 food distribution points in the country that you’re running.

I accompanied Brazilian troops who along with American troops were distributing rice in Bel-Air, Port-au-Prince. I learned that such food distribution occurs only once a day for a couple of hours at these 16 locations. Women are only getting rice despite interviews I did with personnel who claim that your warehouses are replete with cooking oil, beans and other goods. Why aren’t you distributing that aid?

I talked to other reliable sources that maintain that your paperwork bureaucracies only hinder the distribution of food to Haitians in need. How come after one month after the earthquake your organization hasn’t taken measures to speed up the assistance?

Stating that your organization has reached over 3.2 million people means that you have provided aid to about 50% of the Haitians in the country, a fact that is far from being true. I visited several tent cities where no aid had been distributed — none of those people had received even one gram of rice. Many of other journalist colleagues in Haiti can attest to this — your organization is no where to be seen, except driving around all over the place never making stops along the way.

I’m requesting that you provide documentation detailing how you got to your “3.2 million” number. You can email me that information directly to: dolores@newsjunkiepost.com. I also would like to receive the forms that NGOs must currently fill out to get food aid. And, I want a personal statement from you on why women are mainly receiving rice as food aid and not more nutritious food. The survivors are resorting to selling the rice they are getting because it is not enough to sustain their families.

I hope that you don’t ignore this open letter; that would be a grave mistake. As a veteran journalist I’m highly committed to investigating and exposing your work in Haiti. Credit for food aid distribution should go to those who actually deserve it, you’re exaggerating your accomplishments instead of admitting to your shortcomings and challenges to the people of Haiti and to the world.

Sincerely,
Dolores M. Bernal
Co-Editor-in-Chief, NEWS JUNKIE POST

News and information on Haiti is now all available on the NJP’s newest blog: Eye On Haiti. The blog is maintained by NJP’s Dolores M. Bernal. You can visit “Eye On Haiti” by clicking here.

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