UN “Profoundly Sorry” for Haiti Cholera Outbreak

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the General Assembly during a briefing on the United Nations’ New Approach to Cholera in Haiti. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder DebebeBy Tharanga YakupitiyageUNITED NATIONS, Dec 2 2016 (IPS)For the first time, the United Nations issued a formal apology for their role in the cholera outbreak in Haiti and announced new steps to alleviate the ongoing health crisis.Speaking to the members of the UN General Assembly, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made an emotional statement, expressing his deep regret for the suffering and loss of life that resulted from the cholera epidemic.“On behalf of the United Nations, I want to say very clearly: we apologise to the Haitian people. We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and its spread in Haiti. We are profoundly sorry for our role,” said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Thursday.Ban first delivered the apology, which was broadcast live on television in Haiti, in Creole, before switching to French and English.The cholera outbreak, which occurred soon after the earthquake in 2010, killed nearly 10,000 and has to date infected close to 800,000, roughly one in twelve, Haitians. We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and its spread in Haiti. We are profoundly sorry for our role,” Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.Numerous reports including one by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention pinpointed the appearance of the first cholera cases to the arriv...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Featured Global Governance Headlines Health Human Rights IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse cholera Haiti the United Nations UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Source Type: news