UN seeks $1.5 bn in revised quake relief for Haiti

NEW YORK - The UN Thursday nearly tripled its original appeal for humanitarian assistance in Haiti, calling for a total of $1.5 billion to help 3 million Haitians affected by the devastating January earthquake.

The $1.5 billion would include the earlier flash appeal of $577 million issued immediately after the magnitude-7 earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince Jan 12, killing more than 230,000 people and destroying large parts of the city.

The UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) at UN headquarters in New York said the new amount would help support affected Haitians for the rest of 2010. Most of the previous $577-million appeal had been pledged or met by donors.

John Holmes, the UN undersecretary general of OCHA, said, “We have to be engaged in Haiti for the long haul, for life-saving relief as well as reconstruction.”

The UN said 1.2 million of the three million people affected are in need of urgent shelter, sanitation and hygiene. The Haitian community also needs help because it has been hosting and supporting the homeless who fled the worst-hit cities.

“The emergency phase of humanitarian relief operations will have to continue for many months,” OCHA said in the revised appeal. “While improvements have been made in the ability to reach those in need with food, water, healthcare and shelter, humanitarian needs in Haiti remain great.”