Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for joining us.

Immediately on arrival I had a good meeting with (Haitian) President (Rene) Préval. As you may know the Vice-president of the Spanish government, who was visiting here, participated in the capacity of Spain’s presidency of the European Union.

I then visited the remains of the UN/MINUSTAH [headquarters at the Christopher Hotel together with you. You have all seen this very tragic devastation of the UN Headquarters. I was very much impressed by all the hardworking search and rescue teams. And I was told immediately after my departure [from the site] that we had a small miracle. A UN staff, who has been trapped under the rubble for longer than five days, was rescued safely. I am very glad that it was a great sign of hope. Saving lives is our first priority and I hope that we see more such miracles.

We drove through Port au Prince to the Champs de Mars.

It is one thing to see from afar the images of Haiti’s destruction and also see them closely. That’s a very different experience for me.

That is why we are here: to stand with the people of Haiti.

I am here to say: “We are with you. You are not alone. Help is already arriving.” For a small country like Haiti, this is a tsunami-like disaster. This is a major catastrophe and a huge humanitarian crisis, whose full dimensions we may not even know yet, particularly outside the capital. It requires a correspondingly massive response and help.

Humanitarian organizations are being challenged in some unique ways, particularly on the logistical side when the capital city has been so badly affected and basic systems are not yet operating.

Let me briefly outline three priorities.

First, saving lives.

We are still in search and rescue phase. We have 27 international teams at work with more than 1500 rescuers. This is very moving. People are still alive under the rubble. We need to dig them out, again including cities and towns outside the capital.

Second, emergency relief.

People need food, water, medicine, tents. We are beginning to get it to them. The World Food Programme, (WFP), has already started their operation. And yesterday they fed 40,000 people. The number of people WFP is going to assist will soon increase to one million people within fifteen days and two million people within another fifteen days. The Red Cross and many NGOs are playing their full part too.

Third, and most important, coordination.

I have been emphasizing the importance of coordination among countries and NGOs and international workers. The situation is overwhelming. And the offer of assistance is also very moving and overwhelming.

The airport has limited capacity. We need to make sure our help is getting to people who need it, as fast as possible. We can not waste one minute, one dollar, or one person. We cannot have vital supplies sitting in warehouses.

That requires strong and effective coordination by the United Nations, and between the United Nations and the other major players, particularly, of course, the US – all this under the leadership of the government of Haiti, who are increasingly active.

In fact, President Préval also raised the importance of a coordinated way of delivering assistance. And I assured him that the United Nations will take charge of the leadership in coordinating this situation.

I am gratified that, in spite of the immense tragedy that has befallen the Haitian people and the personnel of MINUSTAH, the mission is ably performing its mandate to assist the Haitian government in maintaining peace and security in Haiti.

MINUSTAH continues to enjoy the fullest support of the Security Council for its role which will be discussed in the Council tomorrow.

I am going to report to the Security Council on the situation and on my visit and how the international community is addressing and assisting the Haitian people tomorrow morning.

I am also grateful for the support of the United States and Canada, who have deployed to Haiti to assist in the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid. They recognize the primary responsibility of the Haitian authorities to respond to the disaster and the role of the United Nations in coordinating the international assistance.

We are strengthening our coordinating mechanisms with all the actors involved in this challenging task so that it is clear about the different roles and the military personnel of the individual states will have during this emergency.

Under the experienced leadership of Edmond Mulet, the acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Kim Bolduc, the United Nations has already put in place the key sectoral coordination arrangements between UN and non-UN actors – the so-called clusters, including in the neglected but vital area of protecting the position of the most vulnerable in a crisis like this, particularly children, women and girls. We have to protect the human rights of all those vulnerable people in this time of crisis.

I wish to thank and offer my great respect and admiration to all the members of the international community who have come to Haiti’s assistance.

I would like to particularly recognize those on the ground working tirelessly to save lives and deliver relief to those in need.

I will not be able to recognize all the countries by name, but I am expressing my most sincere gratitude to all these countries and peoples.

They represent groups and major donors the world over: for example, the Red Cross, Save the Children, international NGOs and aid organizations, too numerous to name. And of course they represent the entire constellation of the UN family—WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO and others.

Again, on behalf of the people of Haiti, and the United Nations, I thank you.

And I promise this: People around the world expect that their generous contributions will reach those in need, promptly and effectively.

We will do our best, under these very difficult circumstances.

Let me close with two messages, one for our UN team, the other for the people of Haiti.

First, to our colleagues here in Port au Prince and elsewhere: You have lost treasured colleagues and dear friends.

You have suffered yourselves in this gravest single tragedy in UN history.

Yet you carry on. You are the best.

We do not have to create UN heroes. We have only to look around. There are many heroes. I am proud to serve with you.