The UN Security Council endorsed on Tuesday a proposal to send 3,500 more peacekeepers to quake-stricken Haiti to support "the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts" there.

Representatives of the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council endorse the recommendation made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send 3,500 more peacekeepers to quake-striken Haiti in the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 19, 2010. Among these 3,500 UN peacekeepers, 1,500 will be police officers, the other 2,000 will be military personnel. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

Unanimously adopting a resolution, the 15-member Council endorsed the recommendation by UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to increase the overall force levels of the UN mission there, known as MINUSTAH.

Among these 3,500 UN peacekeepers, 1,500 will be police officers, and the other 2,000 will be military personnel, China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui, the Council president for January, told reporters.

The mandate is for six months and the Council will take up the issue whenever it is necessary, Zhang added.

Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon speaks to media after the representatives of the fifteen members of the UN Security Council endorsed the recommendation to send 3,500 more peacekeepers to quake-striken Haiti in the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 19, 2010. Among these 3,500 UN peacekeepers, 1,500 will be police officers, the other 2,000 will be military personnel. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

The Council, "recognizing the dire circumstances and urgent need for a response," decided that MINUSTAH will consist of a military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and of a police component of up to 3,711 personnel.

The Council expressed its "deepest sympathy and solidarity" to all those affected by the devastating earthquake of Jan. 12 in Haiti and to their families.

It expressed its "deepest gratitude" for the work of UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) staff and troops, as well as for the work of the staff of other UN and international organizations in Haiti.

China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui, the UN Security Council president for January speaks to media after the representatives of the fifteen members of the council endorsed the recommendation to send 3,500 more peacekeepers to quake-striken Haiti in the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 19, 2010. Among these 3,500 UN peacekeepers, 1,500 will be police officers, the other 2,000 will be military personnel.[Shen Hong/Xinhua]