3,000,000 PEOPLE Affected by 2010 Earthquake in Haiti
Written By: GDRCMultiMedia On 16/01/2010 Time (09:28:07)
Urgent help needed for survivors in Haiti.
We are raising funds for Shelter Boxes and Water Aid products for the 3,000,000 affected by the Earthquake
Anything you can do to help will save lives.
If you would like to make an immediate contribution the details are as follows:
RBS Crawley, UK
Sort Code 16-17-25 Account No. 10133361
Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club. Charity Account
Please send us a confirmation email with amount deposited so we can thank you.
For more information see below
The 2010 Haiti Earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake centered approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, striking at 16:53:09 local time (21:53:09 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 13 kilometres (8.1 mi). The United States Geological Survey recorded a series of aftershocks, fourteen of them between magnitudes 5.0 and 5.9. The International Red Cross estimates that about three million people were affected by the quake, and Haitian authorities believe that 200,000 could be dead after burying 80,000. It was announced on 23rd Jan that 110,000 were already confirmed Dead.
The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince. Most major landmarks were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace (the President survived), the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail. Most hospitals were destroyed. The United Nations reported that the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), located in the capital, had collapsed and that many UN personnel were unaccounted for. The Mission's Chief, Hédi Annabi, was confirmed dead on 13 January by President René Préval, although officially unaccounted for.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW
Please send us your cheque make out to the Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club and we will ensure it is used quickly to help where most needed.
News update:
ShelterBox team on the ground: ‘There is no more Haiti’
Aid workers for the international disaster relief charity ShelterBox are on the ground in Port au Prince, Haiti.
ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members Dave Eby (US), Wayne Robinson (US) and Mark Pearson (UK) arrived in the island’s capital on Thursday, January 14 and have already been in contact with government officials, ACTED and Rotarians in the country.
The Response Team, who are completely self-sufficient, has set up base with the help of a Haitian Rotarian.
Speaking from Port au Prince, David Eby said: ‘We’re working hard to resolve security, logistics and communications. The city is totally devastated. Our host told us, “There is no more Haiti .”’
The situation on the ground remains fraught with the damaged infrastructure in Haiti hampering the aid effort but ShelterBox is doing everything within its power to ensure aid reaches Haiti imminently.
ShelterBox’s Head of Operations John Leach said: ‘We spoke with our team in Haiti this morning and already they’ve been working with other aid agencies and the government to assess where ShelterBoxes are most needed.‘Our priority is now getting logistics in and doing all we can to get it on the island. We’re sending a ShelterBox Logistics team into Miami to work and coordinate logistics into Haiti from there.’
ShelterBox’s Logistics Manager Richard Lewis added: ‘We’re doing everything we can to make sure emergency aid reaches the people of Haiti.
‘The situation is changing by the minute and we’re exploring every single avenue available to us in order to make sure the aid gets on the ground as quickly as possible.’
The ShelterBox Logistics team, made up of SRT members Mark Dyer (US), John Lacquey (US) and Ian Neal (UK), will meet a consignment of ShelterBoxes being flown into Miami, USA and run the logistics into Haiti from there.
First ShelterBoxes arrive in Port au Prince 19/01/2010
The first ShelterBoxes have arrived in Port au Prince and hundreds more are due to arrive later today.
The ShelterBox Response Team of David Eby (US), Wayne Robinson (US) and Mark Pearson (UK), who have been in Haiti’s capital since Thursday, took delivery of the first ShelterBoxes at Port au Prince airport yesterday.
The team say twelve of these boxes will be used to build an emergency field hospital at the airport.
‘We are helping build a field hospital with these tents at the airport,’ said Mark Pearson. ‘These are desperate conditions, amputations are happening every half hour. There’s an urgent need for tents at hospitals and this is our first priority.’
ShelterBox Head of Operations John Leach said: ‘The safety of our staff in Haiti is of paramount importance.
‘We are working with the agencies on the ground to ensure that ShelterBoxes are not only distributed speedily and efficiently, but that our team on the ground is able to work in a safe environment.’
Hundreds more boxes are due to arrive into Port au Prince later today from Miami on a chartered aircraft. Thousands more ShelterBoxes are being packed and shipped from ShelterBox HQ in the UK.
ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson said: ‘The devastation in Haiti has moved everyone here. We now have our boxes on the ground and it’s a privilege to help. The scale of devastation is huge.
‘By the sheer grit and determination of our staff and volunteers we have been able to respond in record time. Our thanks go to the teams of volunteers, as well as to our donors, who have allowed us to do this.
‘ShelterBox relies entirely on public donations and people’s generosity. We receive no institutional funding and no DEC money. I’d urge, if you can, to help us.’
Mercy Ships Update 20/01/2010
Mercy Ships have despatched medical help, which is destined to reach Haiti this week, and they promise not to leave until their work is done but they need funds to fly their volunteers to the scene and to pay for medical supplies.
They bring medics, medicines and care – but they also need your donations. Their medics give their time for free, but flights, medicines and equipment all cost money that we have to raise elsewhere.
They cannot leave until their work is done; healing the injured and helping them to support themselves for life. So we ask you for help.
Please help Mercy Ships help these impoverished people, in the short and long term.
They do not go to Haiti alone, but in a group of charities, coordinated by Humedica, for maximum impact. Others in this group include Compassion First, CURE International, Food for the Hungry, Humedica, Global Outreach, Window of Hope, World Relief and World Vision.
They cannot allow these people to recover alone and in pain and your role is as important as our frontline doctors and nurses.
You can visit their website at: www.mercyships.org.uk
District update 20/01/2010
From all that we hear, it would seem that the people of Haiti are most in need of Shelter, Food & Water, Medical Supplies and Help for the Future, and these would seem to be the best options for you to chose from;
Water: World Water Works are making terrific inroads with their supplies – you will have seen our update from Hugo Pike in yesterday’s circular email. Visit their website for the latest information. Click Here For Link
Water: Aquabox has now appointed 2 Aid Agencies to handle Aquaboxes and they are appealing for funds. Visit their website Click Here For Link
Shelter: ShelterBox too are managing to get through to the island with thousands of boxes and this will at last relieve the pressure on those that hospital attention. Visit their website for the latest news and images. Click Here For Link
Medical supplies: Field hospitals and medical supplies are being lifted in by the Red Cross and offer the best choice for this option. Visit their UK website for further information Click Here For Link
Help for the future: The RIBI Disaster Fund, recently launched, will help to ensure that the survivors of the earthquake have something to look forward to. Their towns and communities will need rebuilding in the long term and this will require continuing funds.
