Jan Vandemoortele Quotations

Until now, everything has been focused on relief, relief, relief, and on saving lives. But now, people, including the non-governmental organizations, the civilian authorities, the military, and the U.N. colleagues are all starting to raise questions about how to make the transition from relief to recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

We have to focus now on the next big problem which will be heating.

One hundred days into the process all is not well.

I would say we have made good progress. The glass is definitely half-full -- it's not half-empty -- but we are still worried because the weather is the big unknown factor and we are not sure how people will be able to cope.

It is important to start building new hospitals and schools as soon as possible but it's most urgent to save the lives of thousands of children who could then make use of these schools.

Our rapid assessment of needs after the first biting taste of winter suggests that we need to do more for people in these unplanned camps below the snow line.

I think most of the humanitarian actors on the ground think we're going to make it. We were fearing a second wave of deaths. It didn't occur.

We are aware that the weather could blow us off in a day. We cannot let our heads rest until the spring.

We hope that this week there will be a major change in commitments and contributions.

We need the money now or we will be forced to scale down food deliveries. So far, we have been operating on reserves, and borrowing ... and the pipeline is drying up.

We are meeting day and night around the world to secure more resources. It is not less urgent, the job is not done.

Yes, we are keeping an eye on that and trying to deliver as many relief goods as possible before rains start again.

The race to provide suitable shelter in time is not lost yet, but the consequences of failure, resulting from the lack of relief funds, could result in the deaths of vulnerable people.

We are very worried and are being very vigilant.

The scarcest commodity at this time is time. Money cannot buy time, and the weather is against us and winter is closing in.

The situation remains difficult but it's not critical. The rains and snow often make it miserable but not unmanageable.

The situation is horrific. The job is colossal. One disaster occurred Saturday that couldn't be prevented but a second disaster must be.

Perhaps for the first time since Oct. 8, there is a sense of cautious optimism in the humanitarian community. The job is colossal, but there is a feeling that this is a doable job. It is not mission impossible.

A couple of months ago we feared a second wave of deaths. It has not happened but we remain vigilant.

It was found to be a credible threat. Since security is priority No. 1 for me, I decided to withdraw our staff from the field.

Its objective is to support the long-term road to recovery by bringing the end of the relief operations and the start of reconstruction.

The incentive will be making sure the services follow the people.