Humanity First Deploys First Responders to Haiti

Baltimore, MD, January 18, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Since the earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday 12th January, estimates suggest that over 50,000 people have died, and the Interior Minister, Paul Antoine Bien-Aime is even suggesting as many as 200,000 deaths. Over 3 million people are affected, many living on the streets for fear of other buildings collapsing. There is a dire need for medical assistance, emergency shelter, food, water and clothing, but the security situation is also deteriorating very fast.

A Humanity First team of 11 consisting of medical and logistical experts from Canada and the USA is arriving in Santiago with relief supplies on Saturday afternoon and will be liaising with local authorities before arriving in Port-au-Prince. Other medical teams in Europe are also preparing for deployment over the next 2 weeks once local operations on the island are established. Communications with HF staff in Port-au-Prince are proving difficult at this time. Other HF operations across Europe including France, UK and Norway are assisting North America with fundraising. Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised by HF in the last 2 days, but much more will be needed as operations gear up.

Haiti has a history of disasters with a number of Hurricanes striking the island in recent years. HF teams in Canada and France have responded since 2007 in towns including Torbeck, Gressier, Martissant and Cabaret providing emergency food and water, water treatment tablets and clothes. HF has also been working on longer-term projects such as support for schools and a new bridge in Torbeck which opened in 2009.

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