United Nations failing cholera victims in Haiti five years after outbreak – Amnesty International

The United Nations is miserably failing the victims of the cholera epidemic its personnel triggered in Haiti 5 years ago, with many left waiting for access to effective medical treatment and compensation, said Amnesty International.

“The United Nations must not just wash its hands of the human suffering and pain that it has caused. Setting up general health programs and sanitation campaigns is important but not enough. What is needed now is a proper investigation into the full extent of the damages caused, and a detailed plan to help those who have fallen victim to this disease and the relatives of those who have died,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

“Failing to take action will only undermine the United Nations’ credibility and responsibility as a promoter of human rights across the world.”

More than 9,000 people have died of cholera between October 2010 and August 2015 and hundreds of thousands more have been affected. Most victims come from poor and marginalized sectors of society. All attempts by victims to obtain truth, justice and remedy have been denied so far.

Several scientific reports have identified infected United Nations personnel from Nepal as the vehicle of the disease in Haiti, which broke out in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated the country in 2010. United Nations negligence in maintaining its sanitation facilities and waste disposal have also been shown to have majorly contributed to the outbreak.

Amnesty International has recently written to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to independently assess the claims of those affected and take further steps to tackle the outbreak and provide reparations.