PRESS STATEMENT: HAITI EARTHQUAKE
'At Tearfund, we're today dispatching emergency funds to help survivors of the devastating earthquake that has hit Haiti, including the densely populated capital Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding area.
'Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and millions of people live in the affected area. Many buildings have been destroyed or badly damaged in the capital Port-au-Prince, including the presidential palace and the five-storey UN offices. The death toll, currently in the hundreds, is expected to rise significantly. Many more people are without shelter and basic facilities.
'Communications have been severely disrupted, making logistics extremely difficult for emergency and relief agencies.
'With so many buildings destroyed and so many people made homeless, the need for shelter and basic essentials such as food and water is extremely urgent. We are sending disaster specialists to help our partners assess immediate needs, including emergency shelter, clean water and sanitation, nutrition and health care.
'Please support our partners in prayer, as they themselves face the immense scale of disaster, the trauma, the destruction and loss of life that this earthquake has brought. You can find out more about our work in Haiti and give to our appeal online.'
Matthew Frost, Chief Executive, Tearfund
1215 hours Wednesday 13 January 2010
Contact: Jonathan Spencer on 07767 473516 or Katie Harrison on 07949 181414 in the Tearfund Media Team.