Write off quake-hit Haiti's debt urges charity

The charity's call for cancellation of Haiti's outstanding $890 million (552m) of international debt comes as foreign ministers meet in Montreal to focus on Haiti's needs in the wake of this month's earthquake.

Oxfam also urged ministers to turn a $100m(62m) emergency loan into a grant and to help ensure the country's poor areas do not miss out on reconstruction opportunities.

Jeremy Hobbs, Oxfam International executive director, said: "Expecting Haiti to repay billions of dollars as the country struggles to overcome one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory would be both cruel and unnecessary.

"Immediate cancellation of foreign debt must be accompanied by urgent action to support farmers and prevent a man-made food crisis exacerbating the hardship faced by the people of Haiti.

"This should take place alongside steps to speed the recovery of local markets such as cash grants to pay earthquake survivors to clear rubble and undertake other jobs linked to reconstruction."

He went on: "Haiti is a divided and highly unequal society so there is a real risk that, in the weeks and months after the earthquake, politically influential and richer Haitians will secure reconstruction resources at the expense of Port-au-Prince's poorest."

Along with debt cancellation and cash grants for poor areas, Oxfam also called for support for Haitian farmers and small businesses, support for civil society and the Haitian government, and earthquake-proof buildings in the future.

It warned Haiti was now dependent on imports for 40

per cent of its food, with the planting season just two weeks away.

Mr Hobbs added that the 16 foreign ministers attending today's meeting must also clearly define the role of the international military.

"The leadership of the response must remain clearly in the hands of the United Nations and the Government of Haiti and all international military must actively and visibly co-ordinate efforts with the UN and Haitian Government on every level," he said.

Last week, Christian Aid launched a petition to persuade the Government to take the lead in getting Haiti's debt burden removed.

Paul Brannen, head of advocacy and influence at Christian Aid, said: "When 200,000 people are feared dead and countless more have had their bodies and their lives shattered by horrific destruction which will take years to repair, how can lenders still be demanding their money back?"

A spokesman for the Department for International Development said: "The UK has already cancelled all debts owed to it by Haiti. We call on all remaining creditors to provide Haiti with the debt relief it can expect under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative."

Hundreds gathered for the funeral of the archbishop of Haiti's earthquake-stricken capital, in a rare formal ceremony that captured the collective mourning of a shattered nation.

Meanwhile, as the United Nations said the Haitian government had declared an end to searches for living people trapped in the rubble, yet another survivor was rescued.

French officials said they reached the 23-year-old man by digging a tunnel through the wreckage of a fruit and vegetable shop where the man had been buried for 11 days. Rescuers said he was in good health.