15,000 back call for Haiti debt cancellation

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition urging Chancellor Alistair Darling to use his influence in the International Monetary Fund to bring about the cancellation of Haiti’s $890 million international debt.

The Christian Aid petition was handed to MP Stephen Timms at the treasury on Thursday, ahead of the G7 meeting of finance ministers in Canada.

The aid agency said the petition, launched two weeks ago, had become its largest and fastest growing online campaign action.

“While the UK has cancelled its loans to Haiti our government is in a strong position, as a leading member of the IMF, to help relieve the country of its remaining debt burden,” said Paul Brannen, Head of Advocacy and Influence at Christian Aid.

“The British public want to see Alistair Darling use his influence with the rich nations of the world at the forthcoming G7 finance ministers meeting to urge the cancellation of Haiti’s remaining debt.”

Christian Aid’s emergency appeal has so far raised £3.2 million towards the relief effort following the huge earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.

Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said the death toll had reached 212,000, with the number of homeless believed to be double the one million initially estimated by authorities.

With the hurricane season just four months away, Christian Aid said it has shifted the focus of its response from addressing the immediate needs of survivors, to long-term rebuilding and rehabilitation work.

The aid agency has already sent more than £330,000 worth of emergency relief to 16,500 people, including food, tents, hygiene and baby kits, blankets and medical supplies.