The United States yesterday pledged US$57 million to help storm-ravaged Haiti.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a donors conference in Washington that the Obama administration's commitment is designed to generate jobs, build roads and help battle drug traffickers.

"What happens in Haiti affects far beyond the Caribbean and the region,'' she told the conference organised by the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

"Haiti is in danger of stalling," she added. "This conference gives us all a real opportunity to reignite its path to progress."

Clinton told delegates, which also comprised the United Nations, France and Canada, among others, that as little as US$150 can send a single Haitian child to school for a year or vaccinate 10 youngsters.

Haiti is seeking US$125 million to close a gap in its budget and about US$2 billion toward a three-year programme aimed at reducing poverty.

Ready for partnership

In her appeal, Haitian Prime Minister Michéle Pierre-Louis stressed that her country was ready to embark on a new partnership with the international community.

"Timing is of extreme importance,'' she said.

"We need to commit to different ways of doing business and better ways of collaboration,'' Pierre-Louis added.

"We are committed to improving the conditions for investments for the Haitian peasants," she continued, pointing out that 'engagement will help safeguard social stability."

The Haitian prime minister said overpopulated urban areas in all major cities, especially in capital, Port-au-Prince, are filled with unemployed young men and women "whose future looks absolutely grim".

"They are impatiently waiting for signs of hope, and can no longer wait,'' she said.