to the hurricane-ravaged Caribbean country.

At a meeting here this week with newly appointed Health Minister Alex Larsen, OAS Assistant Secretary-General Albert Ramdin welcomed plans by the Haitian government to rebuild medical and other key facilities in areas not prone to disasters.

More than 400 people were killed in four recent storms, which also wiped out food crops, damaged irrigation systems and destroyed several major structures.

Ambassador Ramdin said it was important for the authorities in Port au Prince to be thinking "structurally", adding that "the OAS is trying to mobilise everything we can".

Larsen used his visit to Washington to update the OAS official on the government's recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

"He also spoke about the clean-up efforts that are currently underway in the northern city of Gonaïves and other heavily impacted areas.

"It was good to understand the problems and needs and to learn from him what they have put in place in terms of dealing with the situation," said Ramdin, who was also briefed on the status of the country's food-aid distribution programme. (CMC)