INDIA-HAITI 2LST

Thanking the co-sponsors of the resolution, Haitian envoy
to the UN Leo Merores expressed his government's appreciation
for the "wave of solidarity and extreme compassion" on part of
the international community.
Pointing out that the government had no physical premises
to operate from, Merores told the General Assembly, "Almost
everything has been levelled."
The 7.0 earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation
caused widespread damage to infrastructure including the
presidential palace and other government buildings.
While there are no official figures on the death toll, it
is estimated that somewhere between 100,000 to 200,000 people
have died and three million people have been impacted.
"The population is on the streets without any shelter,"
Merores said.
Noting that the UN had suffered its single biggest loss
in history, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said 70 UN staffers working
in Haiti have been killed and 146 were still missing.
"We must expect that the death toll will continue to
rise," Ban told the General Assembly.
The Secretary-General said the UN had received a good
response to the call for additional troops that were to be
sent to Haiti in the coming days and that USD 334 million out
of the USD 575 million international flash appeal, launched
on Friday, had been pledged by member-states. PTI