UN says it needs to do 'much more' for Haiti cholera victims

The United Nations says it needs to do "much more" to address its own involvement in the introduction of cholera to Haiti and the suffering of those affected, estimated at more than 770,000 people.

Researchers say there is ample evidence that cholera was introduced to Haiti's biggest river in October 2010 by inadequately treated sewage from a UN peacekeeping base. The United Nations has never accepted responsibility, and has answered lawsuits on behalf of victims in US courts by claiming diplomatic immunity.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq's statement referring to the UN's "own involvement," which was sent to The Associated Press yesterday, came a step closer to an admission of at least some responsibility and was welcomed by lawyers for the victims.
 

"This is a major victory for the thousands of Haitians who have been marching for justice, writing to the UN and bringing the UN to court," said Mario Joseph, a Haitian human rights attorney whose law firm is leading a high-profile claim on behalf of 5,000 cholera victims who blame the UN for introducing the disease.

"It is high time for the UN to make this right and prove to the world that "human rights for all" means for Haitians too," he said.

Haq said in the statement that the United Nations has been considering a series of options, and "a significantly new set of UN actions" will be presented publicly within the next two months.

Five UN human rights experts criticized the United Nations in a letter to top UN officials late last year for its "effective denial of the fundamental right of the victims of cholera to justice."

At least one lawsuit was dismissed because of the UN's diplomatic immunity claim. But a US federal appeals panel in New York is weighing whether the lawsuit that Haitian lawyer Joseph is involved in can proceed, or if the United Nations is entitled to immunity.

Haq reiterated yesterday that the UN's legal position in claiming diplomatic immunity "has not changed."

According to government figures, cholera has sickened more than 770,000 people, or about 7 per cent of Haiti's population, and killed more than 9,200. As of March, it was killing an average of 37 people a month.

Researchers said cholera was first detected in the central Artibonite Valley and cited evidence that it was introduced to Haiti's biggest river from a UN base where Nepalese troops were deployed as part of a peacekeeping operation which has been in the country since 2004. Cholera is endemic in Nepal.