New York Times: The U.N.’s Responsibility in Haiti’s Cholera Crisis
Renaud Piarroux, epidemiologist, professor at Aix Marseille University and head of the parasitology and mycology laboratory at La Timone Hospital

“…[The U.N.] has a second chance to clean up its own mess. To rid Haiti of cholera, the United Nations needs to help reduce the vulnerability of the populations where the disease is rooted. In these areas, priority should be given to projects aimed specifically at improving access to clean drinking water. … The United Nations must also help Haiti strengthen its ability to detect and control outbreaks. Field teams must respond immediately to cholera alerts, investigate the cause of the outbreak, educate the affected people, and secure clean drinking water through chlorination. … By admitting that it was involved in the outbreak, the United Nations made only a first and timid step toward a full assessment of its responsibility. The United Nations must continue to open up about what happened in Haiti, rectify the damage, and establish policies that prevent such disasters in the future. Its credibility is still on the line” (9/7).