Donors pledge $324M for Haiti

WASHINGTON -- International donors are pledging to provide Haiti with $324 million over the next two years as the Western Hemisphere's poorest country works to recover from last year's devastating hurricanes and food riots.

The pledges were well below the $900 million the Haitian prime minister said the government needs to pay for a deficit, education, infrastructure, health and other items over the next two years.

Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis' government has developed a two-year economic recovery plan after political turmoil and natural disasters ruined three consecutive years of economic growth.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said giving Haiti help during a period of global financial turmoil is a "test of resolve and commitment" to those in need.