Solid planning

Jiang Shixue, a Latin American affairs expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes the UN should play an important role in coordinating international assistance efforts.

"Haiti should devise an overall plan covering issues ranging from potential fund contributors to building material suppliers," he said, "so that it can make the most of the different kinds of international assistance in its reconstruction."

WALKING THE WALK: A member of the Chinese anti-riot peacekeeping police team in Haiti participates in street patrols in Port-au-Prince alongside U.S. soldiers on January 28 (WU XIAOLING)

China, which is experienced in dealing with post-quake relief because of the Wenchuan tragedy, can "provide leadership and guidance for the international community in responding to the current crisis in Haiti," said Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in China.

"The generous contributions of the private sector to the quake-affected communities in Sichuan set an example for what must be carried out in Haiti," he said at a press conference on February 2. "The resources and capacities of the private sector are absolutely critical in relief and reconstruction efforts of this magnitude."

But in addition to death, injury and destruction, earthquakes can often leave behind something else—a phenomenon which victims in Sichuan are all familiar with.

Based on China's experience, UNDP Country Director in China Subinay Nandy said psychological treatment for earthquake victims in Haiti will continue to be in great demand in the coming months.

A TIME FOR GIVING: Wang Shuping, a staff member of China's Commercial Development Bureau in Haiti, checks earthquake relief supplies from China at the Port-au-Prince airport on January 26 (WU XIAOLING)

Other needs must be filled too, according to development experts. The UNDP, for example, has launched a "cash-for-work" program in Haiti, which is expected to create up to 220,000 temporary job opportunities while benefiting more than 1 million people.

In the end, Haiti's development and reconstruction will depend on the will of its people and the help of the international community, Jiang said.

What the international community can provide at a premium are medical services and reconstruction of infrastructure such as houses and roads, he said. After that, Jiang added, the UN could send some experts to Haiti to help the Haitian Government formulate economic policies to attract foreign investment and preclude a national "brain drain."

Of course, not all of China's successful practices will work in Haiti. For instance, Haiti will not be able to duplicate China's "counterpart assistance" mechanism, Jiang said.

In an effort to speed the reconstruction process following the Wenchuan earthquake, the Chinese Government paired eastern provinces and cities with earthquake-ravaged localities into partners and tasked them with assisting their respective partners.