Princess leads equestrians' Haiti relief effort

SHEIK'S WIFE SAYS EARTHQUAKE WAS A WAKE-UP CALL

By Janet Patton - jpatton1@herald-leader.com

Equestrians around the world are riding to the rescue of Haiti, devastated by last month's deadly earthquake.

Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, president of the Federation Equestre International, which governs equestrian sports worldwide, and a U.N. Messenger of Peace, flew on a 747B-400 from Dubai to Port-au-Prince on Jan. 22 with 90 metric tons of supplies. The plane is owned by her husband, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

On board were canned foods, high-energy biscuits, hospital tents, water sanitation equipment, prefabricated offices, and computer and telecommunications equipment.

The princess, in addition to heading the organization that is bringing the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to Lexington in the fall, chairs the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, which organized supplies.

The Jordan-born princess toured the Haitian capital, met with Jordanian U.N. peacekeepers, then flew back to Amman, Jordan, with 21 Middle Eastern evacuees, including some children, who had been stranded in Haiti by the Jan. 12 quake Jan. 12.

Princess Haya has been outspoken in support of efforts to rebuild the poverty-stricken country.

"Dubai may be far away, but we join in reaching out to Haitian families who have lost so much and are struggling now just to survive. The sad truth is that Haiti has long been neglected, and this earthquake is a collective wake-up call for the international community," the princess said in a statement on her Web site.

"Yes, we need to deliver food, medicines and water today — fast. But we must stay committed to Haitians as they rebuild. After decades of failed aid, Haiti is the poorest and hungriest place in the Americas. We cannot let that stand."

In a piece for The Huffington Post, Princess Haya called the challenge a war on chaos.

"I'm not naïve. Bleak doesn't begin to describe the outlook in Haiti," the princess wrote. "My biggest fear is that the security situation will deteriorate and all the funds for aid will be wasted. ... Mistakes will be made, no doubt. But we cannot let Haiti slip into chaos. It is time we made a commitment to the people of Haiti that lasts."

Sheik Mohammed, who provided supplies from one of his international charities, also has announced that Dubai Cares will provide educational assistance to 200,000 Haitian children through various world aid organizations.

Now, the FEI is collecting money to go toward rebuilding Haitian sports, "once local conditions permit."

The fund will go to the International Olympic Committee and the Pan American Sports Organization.