Within the framework of the Emergency International Request submitted by Haiti after the devastating 12 January 2010 earthquake, the World Heritage Centre - Latin America and the Caribbean Unit (WHC/LAC) organized a Technical Mission from 11-18 July 2010 in close cooperation with the Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine National (ISPAN) and the UNESCO Haiti Office. The Mission's objectives were two fold:

  1. To assess the state of conservation of the National History Park - Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers after the earthquake, as well as
  2. To visit the Historic Centre of Jacmel, submitted to the Tentative List (Haiti) in 2004 under criteria: (ii) (iv), and to identify with the State Party, urgent support for the protection of the urban built heritage of the city.

The Mission was held 11 - 18 July 2010, and was headed by WHC/LAC accompanied by international experts on matters related to structural engineering, construction techniques for military fortifications, on major archeological sites restoration and on biodegradation.

The Mission identified actions for the short and medium term, focusing on institutional procedures to establish a World Heritage national policy to reinforce inter ministerial cooperation within Haiti, while providing guidelines to reinforce the legal framework to protect built national cultural heritage.

The Mission had the opportunity to meet with the representative of the Minister of Culture and Communications - Ms Magaly Common Denis. The Director of ISPAN - Mr Daniel Elie and his team accompanied the mission team on all its visits. The Mission team also had the opportunity to meet with local communities and civil associations for the towns of Dondon and Milot, as well as the Minister of Tourism and his team, the representative of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Territorial Planning (CIAT) and the Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID) School in Jacmel.

The state of conservation of the National History Park - Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers, will be discussed by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th Committee Session in Brasilia 25 July - 3 August 2010, in the presence of the Haitian authorities.

A Mission report is being prepared and will be dispatched to the Members of the World Heritage Committee..