The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday that it stood ready to support Haiti after a magnitude-7.0 earthquake hit the small island country.

"I am very saddened by the events unfolding in Haiti following what is yet another major natural disaster. On behalf of everyone at the International Monetary Fund, I offer my deepest condolences and best wishes to the victims of this tragedy," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the IMF.

"I am confident that the international community will mobilize quickly to offer support to help this nation," he added.

The IMF said it was "ready to do its part with appropriate support in our areas of expertise."

"I have already asked staff to look into all the possibilities. We will coordinate with other international agencies, and mobilize our assistance as quickly as possible," said Strauss-Kahn.

Earlier, the World Bank President Robert Zoellick also said that his institution is already mobilizing its resources to help the country respond to the catastrophe.

"The World Bank is ready to mobilize a team to help assess damage and losses and plan recovery and reconstruction. The Bank stands ready to help with financial assistance," Zoellick said in a statement released on Wednesday morning.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2010)