Insights from Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah
FrontLines - December-January 2009-10
It is a privilege to write this column as USAID administrator. I
was humbled by the presence of so many of our staff and friends of
the Agency at my swearing-in. I want to extend a special thanks to
Alonzo Fulgham for so ably serving as acting administrator and for
moving the Agency forward over the past year. Alonzo’s dedication
and commitment to USAID is unparalleled, and I am enormously
grateful for all that he has done during this transition period.
I have just returned from Haiti, where we remain intensely focused
on saving as many lives as possible—an effort that requires us to
deliver the critical health, food, water, transportation, and infrastructure
services that both victims and responders desperately need as
quickly as possible. I want to thank all of our staff, our inter-agency
colleagues, and our partners, who have been working around the
clock to help the people of Haiti during their hour of need. I also want
to recognize the sacrifices of the brave men and women from our
search and rescue teams who have left their families to help others.
I am greatly relieved to report that all of our Foreign Service
National colleagues, U.S. direct hire and U.S. PSC [personal services
contract] staff are safe and accounted for. Tragically, many of our
local staff have lost dear friends and family as a result of the disaster.
Our hearts go out to Herve Jean-Charles, a colleague in our mission
in Port-au-Prince, who lost his daughter in the earthquake. Herve and
our entire FSN family in Haiti remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Many of our NGO partners continue to experience difficulties
locating staff and accessing demolished offices and facilities. In
order to help our partners strengthen their operational capacities, we
plan to augment shipments as airport access and partner delivery
capacity increases.
What we have seen so far is a true whole-of-government effort.
I want to thank our colleagues from the Departments of State,
Defense, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, as
well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other parts
of our government, for their extraordinary efforts and commitment to
coordination.
The tragedy in Haiti reminds us of the importance of USAID’s
mission and our role in helping communities in need. We have a
tough road ahead and there is much work yet to be done. But working
together with our inter-agency partners, we can carry out the targeted,
aggressive relief to Haiti that we have been called upon to provide.
I am honored to be working side by side with you to support our
challenging and rewarding mission.
★
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