Gerard Latulippe, NDI’s resident director in Haiti, has been in Washington coordinating NDI’s efforts in response to the Jan. 12 earthquake.  NDI has been supporting Initiative Committees that are mobilizing to support national and international relief efforts.  Latulippe was in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit and describes the harrowing circumstances as well as NDI’s ongoing efforts.

Tell us where you were, what you were doing when the earthquake hit.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January brought suffering and destruction to a country that was already facing major development challenges. In the tragedy’s wake, members of a Haitian network of community action groups, or Initiative Committees (ICs), mobilized to support national and international relief efforts. Developed over more than a decade with NDI support, the ICs have operated in 179 municipalities across the country and involve 35,000 Haitians and 3,500 civic organizations, including 400 women's groups.

NDI expresses deepest condolences to the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.

"The people of Haiti are our neighbors. They are hurting and need our help," said NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright. "Beyond that, words cannot begin to describe the tragedy that has taken place. Assistance is needed now, and will be needed for months and years to come."

Eighteen committee and subcommittee chairs from four House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) partner countries - Afghanistan, East Timor, Haiti and Liberia - participated in a week-long program on the function of committees within the U.S. House of Representatives. The program was sponsored in conjunction with NDI, the International Republic Institute and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

New York, 17 July 2000 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) today announced a new initiative to jointly promote good governance and strengthen democratic institutions around the world. The agreement was signed by NDI President Kenneth D. Wollack and UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown at UNDP Headquarters in New York.