Expectations have been exceeded at a donor conference for the reconstruction of Haiti in New York. Almost 50 donors promised nearly ten billion dollars in aid, including 5.3 billion for the first two years.

With aid agencies and representatives of 138 countries in attendance, the conference organisers had only hoped to raise 3.8 billion dollars to fund the first stage of rebuilding following January's massive earthquake.

The most generous donors were the European Union and the United States.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a good start. He stressed the importance of turning pledges into actual aid and reconstruction.

Haitian President René Preval says the result of the donor conference shows that his country is not alone after January's devastating earthquake.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck on 12 January killed more than 200,000 people and left 1.3 million others homeless. Officials estimate the cost of reconstruction in Haiti at 11 billion dollars in the next ten years.