Thanks to Jonathan Katz for tweeting the link to this letter to the editor of The Washington Post: United Nations needs help fighting cholera in Haiti. The letter in full:
The Aug. 12 editorial “Righting a deadly wrong in Haiti” rightly drew attention to the heavy and tragic toll of the cholera epidemic and the continued need for more resources and support. The United Nations shares The Post’s concern. Since the onset of the epidemic, we have been on the ground every day responding to alerts of new cases, supporting medical care for victims, rehabilitating cholera-treatment centers, disinfecting health facilities, treating sewage, training health workers and providing much-needed medicines and vaccinations. This work goes with our longer-term efforts on improving water and sanitation infrastructure.
Last year, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a drive to support Haiti’s long-term plan to eliminate cholera and end the epidemic. So far, only half of the $444 million needed for the next two years has been mobilized, and less than a quarter of the $40 million earmarked for humanitarian needs has been received.
The hurricane season is looming. Donors need to step up. With sufficient support, we can assist the people of Haiti in recovering from the double tragedy of earthquake and cholera, combat poverty and lay the foundations for stability and prosperity. This is what the people of Haiti need. Our job is to help them.
Martin Nesirky, New York
This is the kind of letter that gives "diplomatic immunity" a bad name.
