EU offers over $575.6 million quake aid to Haiti

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union institutions and member states have offered more than 400 million euros ($575.6 million) in emergency and longer-term assistance to Haiti after the earthquake there, the bloc said on Monday.

EU Aid and Development Commissioner Karel de Gucht said after a meeting of the 27-country bloc's development ministers that the aid would include 137 million euros for short-term needs and at least 200 million for the medium- and longer-term.

A European Commission spokesman said an additional 92 million euros would be provided by EU member states.

The ministers also called for an international conference on reconstruction plans when emergency needs have been addressed and offered paramilitary police to protect the aid effort.

The earthquake last Tuesday killed as many as 200,000 people and food and medicine is only now reaching those in need because of logistical logjams.

De Gucht will go to Haiti on Wednesday to assess aid needs and logistical problems.

An EU official said the shorter-term aid was intended to provide immediate assistance and to avoid "a second-wave disaster" caused by disease and security problems.

A statement approved by ministers underlined the need for a "rapid, coordinated response" to the disaster and for adequate security to ensure safe and unhindered access to aid.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Justyna Pawlak, editing by Timothy Heritage)