No end to cynicism, is there? See previous posts on Haiti for reference.

UN appeals to members for $1.5 bn Haiti aid
Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:33:57 GMT
The United Nations has made a record appeal of about USD 1.5 billion to help Haitian whose country and livelihood have been ruined by last month's strong earthquake.

The international organization intends to use the self-described "largest-ever humanitarian appeal'' to provide aid for more than 3 million Haitians affected by the large-scale quake.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy to Haiti, former US President Bill Clinton, made the appeal on Thursday at a meeting with diplomats from UN member states.

"Before last month's disaster, we had a plan for Haiti's long-term development and reconstruction," Ban said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"Our challenge today is to reformulate that plan to help Haitians build back better."

The new appeal also seeks funding to revive agriculture, provide emergency telecommunications and manage makeshift camps.

The January 12 quake killed more than 200,000 people and left over one million homeless.

According to the UN, at least two million Haitians are currently in dire need of food.

RB/MB