Tags: New York , United Nations , Haiti quake

New York: United Nations agencies involved in assisting Haiti have received donations and pledges worth up to $2 billion, the top UN humanitarian emergency coordinator said.

John Holmes said on Friday the total included the flash appeal he launched after the Jan 12 earthquake for $575 million for emergency relief for the Haitians. He said 80 percent of that appeal has been met.

UN agencies like the UN Development Programme, the World Food Programme and the UN Children's Fund have been seeking funds to carry out their own programmes in assisting the quake victims. The cumulative amount was about $2 billion thanks to the outpouring of generosity from the international community, Holmes said.

UNDP has launched a cash-for-work for Haitian youths to help jump start the local economy and was already employing 12,500 people. That number would go up to 20,000 this week and the aim is to increase it to 200,000, Holmes said.

The cash-for-work programme pays $5 daily for each person to become involved in post-quake activities, including removing debris and repairing damaged infrastructure.

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