European Union sends aid and funds to devastated Haiti

The European Union pledged to offer more than $575 million to help Haiti in humanitarian aid and longer term assistance after last week's devastating earthquake.

The European Union Commission said it would contribute $474 million in emergency and long-term aid to Haiti. EU member states also poured $132 million in emergency aid alone.

Additionally the EU dispatched a team of experts to assess the most pressing needs, notably to support the capacity of the Haitian authorities.

"We have taken swift action," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton after an emergency meeting of the 27-nation EU's development ministers.

The money and aid will go join emergency and long-term assistance to the country which was torn apart by the magnitude 7.0 quake. The push to fund and coordinate relief are quickly becoming the largest international relief effort since the Asian tsunami of 2004.

Countries in the Americas and around the world are offering to send and are already sending a great deal of assistance.