On Wednesday, international donors got together to pledge up to $4 billion to Haiti, the first step in a worldwide effort to rebuild the country after January's disastrous earthquake.   

 

[Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister]: 

“It is crucial for Haiti that development be possible… We must prove here today that collective action is possible, that aid for development can work, that in ten years time, the situation of Haitians will be a radically improved one.”

 

The U.N. meeting aims to fund a Haitian government recovery plan that includes decentralizing the economy to create jobs and wealth outside the capital Port-au-Prince. 

 

During the meeting, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner pledged millions to aid Haiti and is cancelling its debt to France.        

 

[Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister]: 

"French aid for 2010 and 2011 alone will be of an amount of 180 million euros, with the immediate cancellation of the 56 million euros of bilateral Haitian debt." 

 

Kouchner went on to detail how the money will be spent.  

 

[Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister]: 

"This aid will be aimed at buying seeds for the next agricultural harvest, but also to back the administrative, financial and security infrastructure of the Haitian state and enable it to implement its plan of action for reconstruction. France's aid is aimed at backing a new economic and social model for Haiti." 

 

The United States has pledged $1.15 billion for long-term recovery. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is the U.N. special envoy for Haiti who will coordinate relief efforts for the country.  Mr. Clinton says more work needs to be done to help the homeless Haitians before the start of the rainy season.   

 

[Bill Clinton, Former U.S. President and U.N. Special Envoy for Haiti]:           

"…We still have to move 20 to 40 thousand people before the rainy season so they are not at risk of drowning… so we still have to build the lowest cost possible, big permanent shelter we can so people can run there if they get subject to a hurricane."