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Haiti Aid: Throwing Good Money After Bad?

As Haiti goes to the polls to choose a new parliament, is it an aid success or a triumph of 鈥渄isaster capitalism鈥? Is it a 鈥渞epublic of NGOs鈥 or an actual flourishing democracy.

Five and a half years ago Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake, affecting three million people. It was already the poorest country in the Americas, and the disaster prompted an unprecedented response 鈥 including the largest-ever humanitarian appeal launched by the UN in the wake of a natural disaster. Haiti is now choosing its new parliament and the Prime Minister has described the elections as a 鈥渟ignificant moment鈥 for the country.

So is Haiti a 鈥渞epublic of NGOs鈥 or a burgeoning democracy? Is it an example of the success of aid, or the poster child of 鈥渄isaster capitalism鈥? Join Owen Bennett Jones and his panel of experts as they discuss how the international community can make sure that its response to natural disasters doesn鈥檛 do more harm than good.

Photo: A US Navy helicopter by Haiti's presidential palace, shortly after the January 2010 earthquake. Photo credit: AP Photo

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50 minutes

Last on

Sat 8 Aug 2015 03:05GMT

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  • Fri 7 Aug 2015 08:05GMT
  • Sat 8 Aug 2015 03:05GMT

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