financial resources to defray the litigation costs before the Inter-American Court” of the alleged victims and their family members. In this regard, the representatives submitted as attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, sworn statements concerning the alleged social and economic damages caused to Joseph Desravine, Joseph Pierre, Sélafoi Pierre (also known as Celafoi Pierre), Renaud Tima, Rose-Marie Petit-Homme (also known as Célicia Petit-Homme), Sonide Nora and Rose Dol, as well as to Rose Fortilus (also known as Yola), Alise Fenesy, Antoinette Saint Phar, Elcéus Maxime, Illiodor Dorzema, Jolina Georce, Kernélus Guerrier, Levoyelle Alcé (also known as Lifaite Alcé or Phito) and Mélanie Sainvil (also known as Dieula), and the affidavits concerning the socio-economic evaluation prepared by a social worker regarding Noclair Flor Vilien and Josue Maxime. In general terms, these statements describe the activities in which the alleged victims were engaged, the income that would be generated by those activities, the current reduction in income suffered by the aforementioned persons and the precarious situation in which they were living. 6. Furthermore, the representatives pointed out that “[t]he representative organizations are non-profit institutions that do not have specific funds to present this case [, and that] their actions have been largely voluntary and carried out with limited funds normally assigned to other actions.” Likewise, they argued that “without additional resources obtained from the Assistance Fund Legal it would not be possible to litigate the case in conditions consistent with the principle of equality of arms.” 7. The representatives explained that the alleged victims were requesting support from the Assistance Fund to cover the following expenses: (i) meeting of the alleged victims with their representatives to prepare the case, including transportation expenses for fourteen alleged victims or family members and for the legal team to Port-au-Prince (two people from Canada and two people from the Dominican Republic); (ii) meeting with the witnesses to prepare their testimonies for a future hearing before the Court, including transportation expenses for five witnesses and the legal team to Port-au-Prince (two people from Canada and two people from the Dominican Republic); (iii) hearing at the seat of the Inter-American Court, including the transport expenses of five witnesses and the legal team to Costa Rica (two people from Canada, seven people from Haiti and two people from the Dominican Republic), lodging and per diem expenses, and (iv) meeting of the alleged victims with the representatives after the hearing, including transportation costs for the fourteen alleged victims or relatives and the legal team to Port-au-Prince (two people from Canada and two people from the Dominican Republic). 8. Finally, the representatives submitted an estimate of the expenses to be covered by the Fund, both for the appearance of five witnesses and the legal team at a future public hearing and for the holding of three meetings between the alleged victims and the representatives, one in order to prepare the case, another for the appearance of the witnesses and a final meeting after the hearing. For the first item, the representatives estimated that the expenses for five witnesses and six members of the legal team would amount to a total of approximately US$ 13,200.00 (thirteen thousand two hundred dollars of the United States of America). For the second item, the representatives calculated a cost of approximately US$ 12,300.00 (twelve thousand, three hundred dollars of the United States of America). In total, the representatives requested US$ 25,300.00 (twenty-five thousand, three hundred dollars of the United States of America) “to cover the litigation costs before the Court” 8. 8 The President notes that the amount stated as the total requested differs by US$ 200.00 (two hundred dollars of the United States of America) from the result obtained by adding up each of the expenses submitted. 3