Penn named ambassador at large for Haiti

Actor Sean Penn has been named ambassador at large for Haiti in recognition of his humanitarian work since the devastating earthquake.

The Hollywood star received the honour from Haitiian president Michel Martelly at a ceremony at the National Palace. Mr Martelly thanked Penn for keeping the spotlight on the Caribbean nation.

Penn’s J/P Haitian Relief Organisation was set up a few months after the January 12 2010 earthquake to oversee a settlement camp where thousands of people displaced by the disaster lived.