PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti. — The international community’s response in helping Haiti has been very important, above all that of Cuba, which was "the first country to help us, because the Cubans were working here before the earthquake, and have collaborated a lot in saving a considerable number of lives," affirmed Jean Rénald Clérismé, advisor to the office of President René Préval, during a meeting with Cuban reporters.

Rénald also acknowledged the immediate support of the Dominican Republic, whose president, Leonel Fernández, arrived in Port-au-Prince the day after the earthquake. Likewise, he praised the help of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. "We can say that the Hispanic world of the region is very much present in Haiti."

Rénald particularly thanked Fidel, who initiated the cooperation program with Préval; Raúl, and "that other great friend, Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo, who has accompanied Haiti for so many years."

Regarding the number of dead as a result of the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, he said that the total given stands at 150,000, although that figure could rise to 200,000, because many people remain under the wreckage. "This has been worse than a war," he commented.

However, to date the country is receiving help from all over the world. "We would like to achieve good coordination to help the Haitian people, and for there not to be a politicization of the disaster; that each country will contribute to the health and dignity of the people," he commented.

Rénald admitted that there have been coordination problems in food distribution. He said that on the government level, working teams have been created, but in a disaster situation, coordination becomes very difficult, above all "because we do not have the habit of doing so. It is complicated, but day by day, we are trying to achieve that coordination so that people receive the aid," he said.

Regarding the controversial issue of the adoption of Haitian children who lost their parents in the earthquake, he said that the country has a Ministry of Social Affairs and an Institute of Social Welfare that oversee those procedures. "The government has no problem with adoption, but it should be done according to the country’s regulations."

He also explained that a plan exits for building encampments outside the city and creating places for some 600,000 people who lost their homes.