Haiti receives World Bank grant

The World Bank has approved a US$ 65 million grant to support the recovery of Haiti's infrastructure as well as re-establish basic state functions following January's earthquake.

The grant is part of the US$ 100 million emergency funding announced by The World Bank immediately after the earthquake. World Bank director for the Caribbean, Yvonne Tsikata said, "The re-establishment of key financial and economic functions is critical to a well-functioning State and to the reconstruction and recovery effort in Haiti.

"In addition, this grant will support the rehabilitation of key public infrastructure, vital for economic activity," she said.

The US$ 65 million grant for the infrastructure and institutions emergency recovery project will be used to restore key economic and financial functions of the government in Haiti, including data recovery, revenue and expenditure management and the provision of office equipment and pre-fabricated buildings to enable government institutions to operate.

The grant will also finance the emergency rehabilitation of public infrastructure, including roads, bridges and administrative buildings. Vital work includes repairs to the RN2 road between Carrefour and Miragoane and to the RN4 road between Carrefour Dufort and Jacmel. The Fauche Bridge on the RN2 road will also be repaired, while drainage equipment in Port-au-Prince will be cleaned in preparation for the rainy season, which begins in May.