Cash-strapped, storm-battered Haiti is finally getting relief.

After years of struggling to meet the requirements for cancellation of most of its $1.7 billion in foreign debt, the country has finally achieved $1.2 billion in debt forgiveness from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

''This is a very positive development for Haiti,'' said Haitian Finance Minister Daniel Dorsainvil.

The debt forgiveness, announced Tuesday by the World Bank, is expected to help Haiti in its effort to get international donors to ante up $353 million in pledges made at an April donors conference.