S. Korea's relief aid for Haiti to jump to $5 million

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will likely boost its emergency relief aid
for the earthquake-hit Haiti to over US$5 million, an official at the foreign
ministry said Monday.

Seoul promised last week to provide a $1-million aid package, consisting of
supplies and rescue workers, to Haiti that was hit by an earthquake of
7.0-magnitude and a series of powerful aftershocks that believed to have left
hundreds of thousands of people killed or injured.
"The $1 million was the first batch of emergency relief aid provided at the early
stages of relief efforts. The country will review comprehensive support for Haiti
as we are beginning to get a better pictures of damage there," the ministry
official said, asking not to be identified.
The move comes one day after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the
country will make additional contributions to international efforts to help
rebuild the Caribbean country while speaking to U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon in a telephone conversation.
The ministry official said the total amount of the country's additional support
for Haiti will be decided at a joint meeting of related government offices and
civilian relief groups, to be held later Monday or Tuesday. He noted it will
likely exceed $5 million.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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