Port-au-Prince: The earthquake that ravaged Haiti last month destroyed up to 50 percent of the Caribbean nation`s Gross Domestic Product, Haitian President Rene Preval has said.
"This earthquake... led to the deaths of 200,000 to 300,000 people and destroyed from 35 to 50 percent of the GDP," Preval said.
He spoke after meeting Brazil counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a UN-Brazilian military base yesterday in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, which was devastated by the January 12 earthquake.
"What is important now is to strengthen the Haitian government," said Lula, adding a personal entreaty to the Haitian people, "at this moment of pain, at this moment of desperation, we must lift our heads up."
Lula called on the international community to cancel Haiti`s debt, and officials from the two governments signed agreements to aid Haitian farmers and schools, which were hard hit in the quake.
According to the United Nations, estimates show 5,000 schools were damaged or destroyed in Haiti, which was already the poorest country in the Americas before catastrophe struck.
Lula referred to a recent South American summit`s pledge of USD 300 million in aid for Haiti, highlighting an agreement to create a USD 100 million fund to help the Haitian government with immediate needs.
PTI
