The final number from Haiti is in, and it's a huge one.

The devastated island nation is seeking $3.8 billion in aid at a N.Y. donors conference on Tuesday to rebuild homes, hospitals and government infrastructure destroyed in the January earthquake.

Haitian President Rene Preval will show representatives of 100 nations Haiti's recovery plan. A United Nations representative said the $3.8 billion would cover reconstruction costs for the next 18 months to begin replacing 1,300 schools and educational centers, 50 hospitals and medical facilities, courthouses and other buildings.

While the $3.8 billion figure would make Bill Gates and Warren Buffet cringe, it represents a large reduction of initial estimates on the amount needed for Haitian rebuilding.

The first estimate prepared by the Haitian government just after the Jan. 12th earthquake set the recovery figure at $11.5 billion.

Edmond Mulet, the top U.N. official in Haiti, has urged donor nations to be generous but made a statement apportioning blame to them for the poor conditions in Haiti before the earthquake.

"I think the international community is co-responsible for the weaknesses of Haitian institutions and the Haitian state," Mulet said.

Mulet is correct that the history of colonialism in Haiti shows that donor nations bear some responsibility for the poorly maintained institutions on the island, but the Haitian government must bear the lion share of responsibility for the situation there.

But at this point, any discussion of blame is a total waste of time that won't help loosen the pockets of possible contributors or better the conditions for people in Haiti.

Donors may be skeptical, though, about the security of their donations, because Haiti has a long history of deeply entrenched political corruption.

With the situation as it is, Mulet should steer clear of passing out blame for conditions in Haiti, and just pass the plate and hope that the international community is generous in its giving.