UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to redouble its efforts to support the people of Haiti on the eve of the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that killed 220,000 and made 1.5 million others homeless.

A Haitian woman walks through a market in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 11, 2011. One year after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that killed 220,000 and made 1.5 million others homeless in Haiti, the impoverished Caribbean island nation is still struggling to recover. However, the road to recovery is fraught with ruins, cholera and political unrest. (Xinhua/Eliana Aponte)

In a statement issued by his spokesman here Tuesday evening, Ban noted that the UN and international response to "a disaster of unparalleled magnitude" was one of the largest ever mounted.

"These efforts must be redoubled and renewed. The Secretary-General calls on the international community to continue its support for the people of Haiti," the statement added.

Ban reiterated the full commitment of the United Nations to support the government and people of Haiti in meeting the challenges of reconstruction and building a safe, prosperous, and secure future for all of its citizens.

"We honor those who left us and carry on their work. We also honor the resilience and determination that the people of Haiti have shown at this difficult time," the statement said.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet