Preval: struggling to keep the international community's attention

In addition to being hit by four major storms, Haitians have also been grappling with soaring food prices.

World food prices have more than doubled between 2006 and 2008, pushing underdeveloped countries deeper into poverty.

Most Haitians live on less than $2 a day, and many resort to eating mud cakes to survive.

In April, Haitians staged riots against the rising prices, resulting in the sacking of then Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon told a UN conference on Thursday that prices on some food items are 500 percent higher than normal in countries like Haiti.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates the number of undernourished people worldwide rose to 923 million last year.

Debt cancellation

Following a three day visit to Port-au-Prince this week, World Bank president Robert Zoellick pledged long term assistance to keep the country from falling deeper into crisis.

He also said the Bank could cancel some of Haiti's debt next year.

It's a humanitarian disaster down there   Centre for Economic Policy and Research

However Mr Zoellick said Haiti needs to meet qualifications such as addressing corruption and increasing public investment.

Even then, the final decision on debt cancellation will be made by the bank's shareholders.

The World Bank has pledged US $25 million in emergency storm-relief grants, as well as a US $10 million grant earlier this year for relief for the food crisis.

But Haiti owes far more in debt to multilateral organisations, including $540 million to the World Bank.

Port au Prince is to pay US $54 million in debt servicing in the next fiscal year, even after some debt relief and rescheduling.

However some critics say that forcing the impoverished country to keep making debt payments of more than US $1million per week will hurt recovery efforts and further erode its meagre resources.

The Washington-based Centre for Economic Policy and Research said there's no reason that international financial institutions cannot cancel Haiti's debt.

"It's a humanitarian disaster down there.

"It's kind of ridiculous that Haiti has to go through bureaucratic hoops," the Centre's Dan Beeton said.

Billion dollar damage

Four tropical storms battered Haiti in August and September, triggering floods that killed almost 800 people.

Mr Zoellick met with government officials during his first visit to Port -au-Prince, and also visited some of the storm ravaged areas including the northern city of Gonaives, which was worst affected.

He said the storms caused nearly $1 billion in damage

The world Bank said it intends to assist with watershed management, drainage, soil protection, reforestation efforts, and other measures aimed at mitigating storm damage.

"You can still see the effects of the flooding in terms of taking up roads and bridges and very deep mud that blocks areas whee people are still housed in shelters," Mr Zoellick said.

The World Bank chief also appealed for more international assistance for Haiti, as it struggles to recover from the storms.

The United Nations has launched a humanitarian appeal for $107 million, but only $20 million has been received.