国际英语新闻：Billions pledged at donors conference as UN chief calls for wholesale rebuilding of Haiti

The conference is co-chaired by Brazil, Canada, the European Union, France, and Spain as leading donors to Haiti, which was already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere before the disaster.

The Jan. 12 quake struck close to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and resulted in the deaths of more than 200,000 people. It also left one third of the country's 9 million people in need of aid.

The total value of damage and losses sustained has been calculated at approximately 7 billion dollars, according to the UN Development Program (UNDP).

Its Administrator, Helen Clark, voiced hope that the conference "will pave the way for building back better in Haiti. With sufficient resources, the vision presented today by the Government of Haiti on behalf of Haitian people can become reality."

Former United States President Bill Clinton (R) attends the international donor conference for Haiti at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States, March 31, 2010

She also emphasized the need for Haitian ownership of the recovery process, with international assistance being aligned with the country's priorities.

"With the necessary resources, we can assist the Government to develop effective social protection to combat extreme poverty; we can help improve access to education, health services, and clean water and sanitation; and we can help promote food security and nutrition," Clark said.

Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive presented the country 's needs and its plans for recovery. Countries, international organizations, and other partners at the meeting will be able to pledge resources, to coordinate in support of Haiti's long-term recovery and to commit to a sustained effort to support the country.

UN General Assembly President Ali Treki urged participants at the donors conference to further support reconstruction efforts, and hoped that the pledges made by the international community " would be commensurate with the needs of the people and Government of Haiti and firmly pave the way to a brighter future," his spokesperson stated.