Commends ongoing efforts by community/business groups and organizations
Governor Franklyn Richards urges the public to continue donating to the Haiti Relief Appeal and commends ongoing efforts by community, religious, business groups and non-governmental organizations, in raising funds and material to assist the people of Haiti.
Last week Tuesday afternoon, Haiti was struck by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a number of aftershocks measuring over magnitude 5.0. Thousands of people have been injured and killed.
On Monday the Dutch Government launched another humanitarian airlift out Holland by sending a chartered plane carrying 30 relief workers goods to Haiti.
The relief workers are from a number of organizations namely, Wereldkinderen, de Nederlandse Adoptie Stichting, de Samenwerkende Hulp Organisaties, the Immigration & Naturalization Service, and the Fast Consular Services Support Team (SCOT) from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Dutch humanitarian flight was scheduled to arrive in Haiti on Monday and depart for Holland on the same day with expected arrival at Schiphol on Tuesday. The aircraft would return with approximately 100 children who have been placed for adoption.
"I call on the nation to continue to give generously. Every little bit helps as it increases the amount of aid that can be delivered to help the millions of people affected by this terrible natural event. The scale of this tragedy is beyond belief," Governor Richards told the Government Information Service (GIS).
According to the United Nations (UN), the January 12 earthquake is believed to have impacted one third of Haiti’s nine million people – three million.
The main focus by relief organizations and other groups on the ground in Haiti is the continued need for search-and-rescue; emergency relief (food, water and tents); and proper coordination of the emergency operation.
The UN and its partners last week launched an appeal last week Friday for nearly US$600 million to help the victims of the earthquake.
The funds are intended to help the estimated three million affected people over a period of six months, with half of the funds going towards emergency food aid, and the balance for health, water, sanitation, nutrition, early recovery, emergency education and other key needs.