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Key Haiti talks begin in Canada Haiti 'can lead quake recovery'
(41 minutes later)
Talks aimed at paving the way for Haiti's reconstruction after its devastating earthquake have begun in the Canadian city of Montreal. Haiti's government can lead efforts to rebuild the country in the wake of its devastating earthquake, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive has said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive are attending, along with delegates from 20 countries. Mr Bellerive told a meeting of world officials in the Canadian city of Montreal that his country faced a "colossal" reconstruction effort.
The meeting comes after the head of Italy's civil protection service strongly criticised the relief effort. He urged the international community to provide "massive support" for Haiti.
It is believed the quake on 12 January killed as many as 200,000 people. The Montreal meeting was called to assess the relief effort and to pave the way for further reconstruction.
An estimated 1.5 million people have been left homeless. It is believed the 7.0 magnitude quake on 12 January killed as many as 200,000 people. An estimated 1.5 million people have been left homeless.
Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said the conference - which includes delegates from the UN and the World Bank - will review progress of the aid delivery to Haiti since the earthquake. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is attending the conference along with delegates from 20 countries and representatives from the UN and the World Bank.
It will also lay the groundwork for a larger meeting to focus on long-term reconstruction. 'Action plan'
"It's not a donor or pledging conference, it's to make sure we have an action plan," he told the Associated Press news agency. "The Haitian government is working in precarious conditions but it can provide the leadership that people expect," Mr Bellerive said.
"The top priority right now is to satisfy the vital needs of victims like food and water, shelter and health care."
BBC HAITIAN CREOLE SERVICE Broadcasting on FM radio daily in Haitian Creole at 0910 local time (1410 GMT), for 20 minutesGiving up-to-date information about where to get basic services and aidAlso available on satellite and online, and via social media BBC Caribbean EU to send police to Haiti Haiti quake: Survivors' stories 'An extraordinary operation'BBC HAITIAN CREOLE SERVICE Broadcasting on FM radio daily in Haitian Creole at 0910 local time (1410 GMT), for 20 minutesGiving up-to-date information about where to get basic services and aidAlso available on satellite and online, and via social media BBC Caribbean EU to send police to Haiti Haiti quake: Survivors' stories 'An extraordinary operation'
He added: "Haiti needs the massive support of its partners in the international community in the medium and long term. The extent of the task requires that we do more, that we do better and, without a doubt, that we work differently," he said.
Speaking earlier, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said the morning session would take stock of the relief efforts and in the afternoon ministers would work on the steps needed for a larger reconstruction conference, where money will be pledged.
He said he expected the time and place for that conference to be announced on Monday.
"It's not a donor or pledging conference, it's to make sure we have an action plan," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"We want to co-ordinate better in the short term and make sure we all know who is doing what and how.""We want to co-ordinate better in the short term and make sure we all know who is doing what and how."
Mr Cannon said one goal was to "physically get the Haitian government back on its feet".Mr Cannon said one goal was to "physically get the Haitian government back on its feet".
The 7.0 magnitude quake destroyed key government buildings, including the National Palace. The quake destroyed key government buildings, including the National Palace.
Mr Cannon said the morning session would take stock of the relief efforts and in the afternoon ministers would work on the steps needed for a larger reconstruction conference, where money will be pledged.
He said he expected the time and place for that conference to be announced on Monday.
After arriving for the talks, Mr Bellerive expressed his gratitude to Canada, but added: "We are fully conscious that the prime responsibility for our future lies in the hands of the Haitian government and the Haitian people."
UK-based charity Oxfam has urged donor countries to have Haiti's foreign debts cancelled.
It said about $900m (£557m) owed to the UN, the World Bank and countries around the world should be written off.
'Vanity parade''Vanity parade'
Earlier, Guido Bertolaso, the head of Italy's civil protection service, said there was a lack of leadership in the international aid operation. UK-based charity Oxfam has urged the international community to have Haiti's foreign debts cancelled.
It said about $900m (£557m) owed to the UN, the World Bank and countries around the world should be written off.
Many operations are still taking place in makeshift outdoor theatresMany operations are still taking place in makeshift outdoor theatres
The World Bank has already announced that it is waiving Haiti's debt payments for the next five years and is studying efforts to cancel the remaining debt.
Last week, the Paris Club of creditor governments - including the US, UK, France and Germany - called on other nations to follow its lead in cancelling debts to Haiti. Venezuela and Taiwan are the other biggest creditors.
Although aid continues to flow into Haiti, the head of Italy's civil protection service has strongly criticised the relief effort and the role of thousands of US troops sent there.
Guido Bertolaso said there was a lack of leadership in the international aid operation.
He described it as "a terrible situation that could have been managed much better".He described it as "a terrible situation that could have been managed much better".
"When there is an emergency, it triggers a vanity parade. Lots of people go there anxious to show that their country is big and important, showing solidarity," he said."When there is an emergency, it triggers a vanity parade. Lots of people go there anxious to show that their country is big and important, showing solidarity," he said.
Mr Bertolaso, an Italian government minister, said it was logical and "commendable" for the US to lead the relief efforts, but "too many officers" meant they had not been able to find a capable leader.Mr Bertolaso, an Italian government minister, said it was logical and "commendable" for the US to lead the relief efforts, but "too many officers" meant they had not been able to find a capable leader.
"We're missing a leader, a co-ordination capacity that goes beyond military discipline," he said."We're missing a leader, a co-ordination capacity that goes beyond military discipline," he said.
"It's a truly powerful show of force, but it's completely out of touch with reality. They don't have close rapport with the territory, they certainly don't have a rapport with the international organisations and aid groups.""It's a truly powerful show of force, but it's completely out of touch with reality. They don't have close rapport with the territory, they certainly don't have a rapport with the international organisations and aid groups."
As the relief operation continues, aid workers have criticised Haitian government plans to relocate hundreds of thousands of people from the capital, Port-au-Prince, to large camps outside the city. Aid workers have also criticised Haitian government plans to relocate hundreds of thousands of people from the capital, Port-au-Prince, to large camps outside the city.
Caroline Gluck, from Oxfam, told the BBC the move could be dangerous for the survivors.Caroline Gluck, from Oxfam, told the BBC the move could be dangerous for the survivors.
"In the past, experience has told us establishing some huge camps can cause all kinds of security problems, for example, robberies, rapes and kind of gang activities if the camps are kept too big," she said."In the past, experience has told us establishing some huge camps can cause all kinds of security problems, for example, robberies, rapes and kind of gang activities if the camps are kept too big," she said.
Oxfam was pressing for the camps to be smaller, she added.Oxfam was pressing for the camps to be smaller, she added.