Haitian homeless to be relocated out of capital

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Haitian government on Thursday began to move large amount of homeless people left by the devastating earthquake to temporary accommodations out of the capital.

A total of 500,000 victims are to be transported by dozens of buses to the south and north of the nation to set up about 50 villages, in order to mitigate the relief burden of the ruined capital.

Government officials said they were discussing with local mayors about locations of the villages.

Haitian President Rene Preval said the government was regaining control of the situation and was working to resume regular operations. He pledged that the aid would be under organization and the situation would continue to improve.

"It is difficult to work as before, but we're on course to regain control," Preval told reporters at his temporary office near the international airport.

In response to some criticism on his government, Preval said the catastrophe "would have been a major disaster for any country."

On the same day, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) said security in the entire country had not deteriorated since the quake and was "under control."