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Media release
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Generous Australians buoy Haiti relief efforts
Dramatic rescue in Haiti: Six days after the quake, Caritas team has pulled a survivor from wreckage of Cathedral, see story and slideshow of the rescue >>
Caritas aid is being delivered in Port-au-Prince, as more than 5,000 people have already been assisted with aid including medical care, food, clean water and hygiene kits. In the coming weeks the Caritas response is planning to assist a further 50,000 as the aid response swings into high gear.
In a massive show of solidarity, Caritas organisations from around the world have sent 200,000 blankets, 15,000 tents, water cans and purification tablets, as well as food, water and hygiene kits. Twenty trucks of aid arrived in Port-au-Prince on Sunday as part of relief efforts from Caritas members which are set to top $30 million.
Caritas has set up two mobile operating theatres with pre and post operative care and provided medicines and fuel. Six mobile clinics will soon be operational. As late as Saturday three people were pulled from the rubble by rescue teams.
An emergency clinic is being flown in from Holland, with personnel including a surgeon, six technical staff for installing water purifying installations and seven water purifying installations.
Thirty-four tonnes of aid will be flown into Haiti from Germany on Tuesday. Half will given out in Port-au-Prince and the other half will be distributed closer to the epicentre, in the south of the countr, yet to receive significant aid supplies. A ship with 80 containers of food has also arrived.
“The real strength of Caritas is its network of parishes that gives us direct contact with communities and a point from which we can provide help”,” said Alistair Dutton, Humanitarian Director for Caritas Internationalis, who is leading the coordination of the international Caritas response from Port-au-Prince.
Jack de Groot CEO of Caritas Australia said, “though the situation on the ground remains extremely desperate; the response of the Australian public has been incredible. Our staff on the ground are being overwhelmed with demand for basic necessities and medical treatment and our local partners are working around the clock to deliver relief. “Australians must be congratulated for their support for the people of Haiti in their darkest hour of need.. Caritas Australia has raised over $400,000 so far. This is an incredible show of solidarity and a great morale booster for our people on the ground. “The extent of the disaster is still unfolding yet it is already clear it will take years to rebuild. All the support the Australian public has given us will be used to assist the people of Haiti in the short, medium and long term, recover from this tragedy”, said Mr de Groot.
Donate now: Make an online
donation to the Haiti Emergency Appeal. Watch how the Caritas is providing is providing quick and effective aid in Haiti through our international network :
For more information please contact Tim O’Connor (02) 8306 3400 or 0417 284 831.
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