FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, February 21, 2004
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Peace Corps
Contact: Press Office
Phone: 202.692.2230
Fax: 202.692.2201
Email: pressoffice@peacecorps.gov |
Peace Corps Suspends Program in Haiti |
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WASHINGTON, D.C., February 21, 2004, UPDATED 3:00 pm–-Peace Corps Director
Gaddi H. Vasquez announced the suspension of the Peace Corps program in Haiti
effective immediately.
“The Peace Corps has had a successful program in Haiti, making great strides
in the areas of agriculture, small business development and working on health
and HIV/AIDS education and awareness. The safety and security of the volunteer
is the number one priority of the Peace Corps and in light of the current
conditions in Haiti, suspension of the program is a necessary action,” said
Peace Corps Director Vasquez.
Currently, all 76 Peace Corps volunteers have safely left the country.
The Peace Corps has served in Haiti a total of 14 years and consecutively
since 1996. Agriculture volunteers have helped address poverty, unemployment,
and environmental degradation by assisting non-governmental organizations with
programs in agroforestry, agricultural extension, agribusiness, microcredit, and
community development. Peace Corps volunteers in business development have also
helped create and sustain small business opportunities for the rural poor
improving their access to financial services. In addition, health volunteers
worked primarily with women and children stressing the importance of
immunizations, sanitation, child and maternal health and the prevention of HIV/AIDs.
Families are encouraged to contact Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services
with any questions or concerns they may have. The Office of Special Services
maintains a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number
during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours
number is 202-638-2574. The Office of Special Services may also be contacted via
e-mail at
ossdutyofficer@peacecorps.gov
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