International donors today pledged $5.3 billion (€3.9 billion) to Haiti, exceeding expectations in a worldwide drive to rebuild the country after January's shattering earthquake.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon told reporters at the end of a one-day donors conference at UN headquarters that the pledges were "far beyond expectations." The world body had hoped to raise $3.9 billion at the conference to help the impoverished Caribbean nation over the next two years.
Some 120 countries also made a total longer-term commitment of some $9 billion, a figure that includes the $5.3 billion in shorter term aid. "This is the down payment Haiti needs for wholesale national renewal. It is the way to build back better," Mr Ban said.
Mr Ban had called for quick donations in response to a UN request for $1.4 billion in immediate humanitarian assistance for Haiti, which even before the January 12th earthquake was the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
So far, the request has only been half funded, fueling fears that the rainy season will compound the disaster for some 1.2 million Haitians left homeless by the disaster.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, co-host of yesterday's meeting, said the United States would pledge $1.15 billion for long-term recovery, which she said must be planned and executed by Haiti's government.
Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign affairs chief, announced the EU’s pledge equivalent to more than $1 billion.
Aid pledges came from all over the world, sometimes unexpected places.
Oil-rich Qatar gave $13.1 million, the Gambia promised $660,000 and China, which does not have diplomatic relations with Haiti because of its ties to Taiwan, nevertheless pledged $990,000.
Haiti’s sometimes acrimonious neighbour, the Dominican Republic, offered $33 million in a show of solidarity.
"Aid is important but aid has never saved a country. Our goal must be the empowerment of the Haitian people. They're the ones who will carry on the work of rebuilding Haiti long after our involvement has ended," Mrs Clinton said.
The UN meeting seeks to raise funds for a Haitian government recovery plan that includes decentralizing the economy to create jobs and wealth outside Port-au-Prince, the capital of some 4 million people.
Haitian president Rene Preval thanked donors and told reporters his country "must take advantage of this opportunity that we now have."
"I appeal to my fellow Haitians to understand the effort that has now been made by the international community and the responsibility that we now have in the interests of our country to respond rapidly and appropriately," Mr Preval said.
Haitian prime minister Jean-Max Bellerive said his government, which saw all but one of its ministries destroyed, had a vision for Haiti's future but needed urgent help.
Aid agencies say the task is huge. Haiti suffered as many as 300,000 people killed in the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which crippled the government and caused damage estimated at between $8 and $14 billion.
Mr Ban said the United Nations would use an Internet-based system to track whether the funds were being spent as agreed.
Agencies