Many feared dead after “direct hit” Haiti earthquake

(January 14, 2010) Caritas will provide immediate help to survivors of a deadly earthquake in Haiti. Caritas Internationalis has assembled an emergency relief team that is flying to Haiti to provide support to Caritas members already working in the country. A 7.0-magintude quake hit south of the Haitian capita Port-au-Prince causing massive damage with many dead. The Cathedral in Port-au-Prince is badly damaged. Catholic Relief Services has been in communication with its staff in Haiti. Their office is still standing and staff present at the time of the quake is safe. CRS staff described the quake as “a major hit…a direct hit”. Caritas Internationalis Humanitarian Director Alistair Dutton is leading the team. He said, “There is a strong Caritas presence in Haiti. We already know that Caritas staff will be providing support to survivors of the earthquake, such as food, shelter and comfort through churches and parish networks. “A priority for Caritas will be to assess the damage and our local capacity to provide aid to survivors of the quake. Caritas runs over 200 hospitals and medical centres in Haiti. It is experienced and prepared to respond to humanitarian disasters there as a result of the frequent hurricanes. “Communications with our staff of the ground is difficult, but we are piecing together a picture of desperate need. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Conflict, recent natural disasters, and poverty have left Haitians with a weak infrastructure. Working in that environment will be difficult.”