New York

12 January 2011

Secretary-General's remarks at ceremony marking First Anniversary of the Earthquake in Haiti

Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General

Excellencies, Your Excellency, Mr. Jean Wesley Cazeau, Deputy Permanent Representative of Haiti, Friends and families of fallen and wounded colleagues, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen,

Forty-seven seconds.

It is not a long time. But the earthquake in Haiti was an eternity of sorrow.

One year is not long, either.

Every day, I see the faces of our fallen colleagues. I hear their voices. Like you, I remember.

Today, we gather in solidarity - with the people of Haiti, with one another, with all who lost their loved ones on that tragic day.

To the families of our 102 fallen colleagues.

To all who suffered injuries, physical and emotional.

We offer our deepest sympathies.

As we honour the dead, we honour the living.

The Haitians struggling in difficult conditions, the workers from around the world helping Haiti to rebuild, the many donors giving aid.

Let us be realistic: the road ahead will be long and hard.

Haiti's streets are still full of rubble. Schools, hospitals, civic infrastructure - all has yet to be rebuilt.

To be frank, reconstruction has been slow. International aid and investment has not come as quickly as needed, or as promised.

The cholera epidemic shows no sign of abating.

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Yet, we are making progress.

The number of people living in camps is half what it was at the peak of the emergency.

We provide clean water to 1 million people every day, food to 2 million people every month.

We are providing security and will help a new government get on its feet and fulfill its responsibilities to its people.

And despite the slow start, recovery and reconstruction is finally beginning in earnest.

On this sad and solemn occasion, I want to say:

The United Nations, the entire international community, stood by Haiti and its people in their darkest hour.

Together, we will walk with them toward a brighter future.

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

In life, we are measured by the company we keep. We are ennobled by the work we do, together.

In the memory of our fallen comrades, let us pledge to realize their dream of a better Haiti.

May they rest in peace.

May we carry on their journey.

Thank you very much.