12 Jan 2011

Red Cross will be in Haiti for many years

7:47 am on 12 January 2011

The Red Cross says it will remain in Haiti until it's no longer needed.

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the island on 12 January last year, killing more than 200,000 and destroying much of the infrastructure of its country.

A cholera epidemic has since killed 3000 people. There was also sporadic violence after a disputed presidential election on 28 November.

However, the Red Cross says says the people of Haiti have great resilience and the quake has given Haiti and the rest of the world the opportunity to rebuild a better country.

The agency says it wants to be part of that rebuilding and will stay as long as it's needed.