In Haiti, UNDP Paying $4.47 a Day to Demolish, Few Safeguards on Right to Return, DR Congo Protests

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/haiti1undp020410.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 4 -- The UN Development Program, with which Bill Clinton is to coordinator aid to Haiti, bragged Thursday about $2.5 million being given by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Inner City Press asked UNDP's Jordan Ryan to respond to protests in the DRC about the grant, when Congolese people are under-served and unprotected, and asked if UNDP had sought out this contribution.

Ryan said the grant shows solidarity, and that UNDP is the "vehicle." Video here, from Minute 11:14. He didn't disclose, but should, what overhead fees UNDP is charging -- as high at 10% in some contexts. Given how much UNDP has in the bank, might it not waive such fees in the case of Haiti?

When UNDP new Associate Administrator Rebecca Grynspan -- according to African Ambassador, she took a post that had been promised to Africa, ironic in light of the happy talk about accepting also a $2.5 million grant from the DRC -- briefed the Press about UNDP's "cash for work" in Haiti, she said it would be $5 a day.

Since then, some have said $3 a day. Inner City Press asked Ryan, who said it is $4.47 a day, set by the government. Much of the work being done involves demolishing buildings in Port au Prince.

Inner City Press asked, since UNDP is involved in knocking buildings down, what safeguards will be in place that people can return? Video here, from Minute 28:45. These questions were asked about New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina -- why not in Haiti? Ryan responded with platitudes about recovery plans with, among others, the World Bank. Great.

Meanwhile at the IMF, Inner City Press asked about criticism, including by a UN expert, of the IMF issuing a new loan rather than grant to Haiti. IMF Spokeswoman Caroline Atkinson said that nothing would have to be paid until 2012. And then? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/haiti1undp020410.html

UNDP Reports on Clark's Kiwi Concerns, Doss Probe In Limbo, Ryan on Sri Lanka

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/undp2hclark101509.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 15 -- The no longer so new Administrator of the UN Development Program, Helen Clark of New Zealand, has still not done a UN press conference. On Thursday one of her duputies, Jordan Ryan of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, was announced as the guest at the noon briefing, with no topic listed. [Inner City Press previously covered Ryan's work in Vietnam, click here.]

Once Ryan arrived on Thursday, the scope of the briefing was limited to UNDP's work in Tonga and Samoa. Inner City Press asked if this had anything to do with the interest of Helen Clark's native New Zealand in these two. Why not a briefing on the Philippines and Indonesia? Mr. Ryan did not directly answer. He described three big waves.

Since UNDP never comes to the UN briefing room anymore, Inner City Press asked Mr. Ryan a few outstanding UNDP questions. Is it true that UNDP was the agency charged with relocating the World Food Program in Islamabad to a common premises in the diplomatic zone, before the recent bombing? When will UNDP's internal investigation of Alan Doss' written request that he be shown "leeway" -- that rules be broken -- and a UNDP job given to his daughter? Ryan said there is an investigation. But it's been months.

As the moderator tried to cut off questions, Inner City Press returned Tonga and Samoa -- how much notice was given? half an hour -- then Guinea and Sri Lanka. Ryan, who has visited Sri Lanka, talked about building housing. Inner City Press asked about the view of some Tamils that the rehousing may involve changing the ethnic make up in Northern Sri Lanka. Video here.

Ryan said that not what he saw during his visit, but acknowledged that in some cases in Sri Lanka, people are moved to places other than where they came from. This could be done in the name of safety. But it could having intentions and / or effects.

Afterwards, several other UN correspondents marveled that Helen Clark, the UN system's third highest officials, has yet to come do a press conference at the UN. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp2hclark101509.html