Reply #16: Europe Pledges More Than $500 Million in Haiti Quake Relief

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The European Union on Monday pledged nearly $200 million in short-term aid to help Haiti recover from the earthquake and is earmarking almost $300 million in longer-term assistance. Individual European countries have also pledged more than $100 million.

European Union ministers meeting in Brussels agreed to boost support for Haiti, ravaged by a devastating earthquake that struck last week. At a news conference in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced the 27-member block has decided to earmark roughly $197 million in short term assistance for the Caribbean island nation. She praised Europe's response to date.

"We have taken swift action," she said. "We have immediately made available more than $20 million euros to assist on the ground as well as the individual member states, who have sent a whole range of individual requirements to fulfill the needs - from individuals to support medically, help with water sanitation, to provide the logistial support that's necessary."

EU officials announced the block is also considering nearly $300-million in longer-term aid to help Haiti recover.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/disaster/Europe-Pledges-More-Than-500-Million-in-Haiti-Quake-Relief-81964857.html