British Red Cross launches Haiti earthquake appeal

13 January 2010

The British Red Cross has launched an appeal in response to the largest earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years.

The society has also released £200,000 from its disaster fund to ensure money is immediately available for the disaster response.

To donate to the appeal visit www.redcross.org.uk/haitiearthquake or call 08450 535353, cheques can be sent to British Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal, PO Box 722, East Grinstead, RH19 9AR.

The earthquake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale hit the capital Port-au-Prince and other areas nearby. The earthquake was also felt in other countries in the region. The most affected area is Haiti's West Province with a population of 2.2 million.

Red Cross volunteers in Haiti are currently assisting the injured and supporting hospitals whose do not have enough capacity to deal with this emergency.

Pete Garratt, British Red Cross disaster response manager said:

"This has been a devastating earthquake on a scale not seen in this region for many years. The most urgent needs at this time are search and rescue, hospital care, emergency health support, clean water and shelter.

"Red Cross staff and volunteers are on the scene, and emergency stocks have been released within Haiti and from other warehouses in the region. However the sheer scale of this disaster means much more will be needed.

"With the earthquake affecting a combination of urban and mountainous rural areas, we expect the needs to substantially increase."

The Red Cross Red Crescent has pre-positioned relief supplies for 3,000 families in Haiti, with supplies for thousands more in the nearby regional warehouse. These emergency supplies consist of kitchen kits, personal hygiene kits, blankets, tarpaulins and containers for storing drinking water.

A group of experts in disaster response, emergency health teams and logistics staff will arrive in Haiti today to support the Haitian Red Cross in the relief efforts and to begin to coordinate international assistance. In addition, a Red Cross team will lead a damage assessment together with the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Union.

Vodafone has donated £25,000 to the British Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal

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