Posted by : Lizzie on 15/01/2010 at 20:48

15th January 2010: The Haitian earthquake in the capital city of Port au Prince is likely to have taken the lives of over 50,000 people, rendered 300,000 homeless and affected in excess of three million. As homes, schools and hospitals have completely crumbled, in many cases crushing the men, women and children inside them, the population faces complete destitution without a significant increase in medical supplies, food and access to fresh water.

In response to the disaster British charity Jubilee Action has mobilised their team in the North of the country, taking part in a first aid convoy to deliver medication, clothing and food, as well as carrying injured people to hospitals in the North, to alleviate pressure on the few hospitals left standing in Port au Prince. We will in addition be welcoming refugees from the capital into accommodation in the second largest city, Cap Haitien. Our centre for vulnerable children, Maison de Benediction, will be opening its doors to the hundreds of children expected to be left orphaned or disabled by this catastrophic event.

Commenting on the Jubilee Action relief effort, the charity Director, Caroline Saunders, said:

“Having worked with our partners on the ground in Haiti since 2008, we have been able to respond immediately to this catastrophic natural disaster, which has devastated the capital city of Port au Prince. By being able to administer medical assistance to men, women and children our partners have already been able to save people who might otherwise have died from their injuries. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported us in the past three days and would appeal to everyone to continuing donating so that we can continue to provide food and medical care to those who will face death without our help.

“We are determined not just to help in the immediate aftermath of this earthquake, but to provide long-term development support to this impoverished people, who already struggled to survive before this earthquake destroyed their homes and livelihoods.”