The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) has initiated an online petition to demand that U.S., international and NGO offi cials provide more transparency and effi ciency in the distribution of millions of dollars of international aid to Haiti. The petition is addressed to ten aid offi cials including UN Special Envoy to Haiti Bill Clinton, U.S. Agency for International Development administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Director General of the French Development Agency Jean-Michel Severino, and president of the International Committee of the Red Cross Jakob Kellenberger among others.

The petition is also sponsored by Partners in Health and the New Media Advocacy Project, which has produced two short videos (http:// tinyurl.com/yfkxtbs) about the dramatic conditions facing the hundreds of thousands of Haitians who are still without waterproof shelter, eat once a day or less, and do not receive adequate medical care. This is ironic, the petition sponsors point out on the www.change.org website, because “the world responded generously to Haiti’s earthquake, immediately donating over $2.5 billion, with another $1.2 billion pledged, even before the March 31 UN Donor’s Conference. This works out to over $1,000 per earthquake victim.”

The petition states in part that “although I appreciate the heroic efforts that many individuals and organizations have made to respond to the earthquake, it is simply unacceptable that over 330,000 – over a quarter of the displaced in Port-au-Prince – have not received shelter materials, and over half report not receiving food aid. Earthquake victims report that they are not consulted by relief agencies, or involved in the distribution of aid.” “As a donor and a taxpayer,” the petition continues, “I am insisting that the governments and NGOs entrusted with the world’s generosity respond more effi ciently and effectively to Haiti’s earthquake. This means: 1) better coordination among aid donors and providers; 2) allowing more participation of earthquake victims in the planning and implementation of earthquake response projects; and 3) more transparency about where and how Haiti earthquake funds are spent.” The petition and videos can be found at the URL: www.change.org/haitijustice/ petitions/view/we_can_do_better_ for_haiti_demand_transparency_ and_improved_aid_distribution