World Relief Canada is an affiliated ministry of The Free Methodist Church in Canada. Here is their latest release:
On January 12 an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale hit a highly populated area in Ouest Province of Haiti (population 2.2 million), 17 km south-west of Port-au-Prince. Two hundred thousand are feared dead and many more injured. Unknown numbers are still buried under the rubble.
World Relief Canada is assessing the situation daily and will be responding with our Integral Partners, such as World Relief US and several other agencies, with assistance to the victims. We received the following update on Sunday from one of the World Relief US staff members in Haiti:
We continue to provide food and water to hundreds of people every day at a local church as well as Kings Hospital in Port-au-Prince. The plan is to set up feeding centres in two additional churches and provide food and water to an additional 1,200 people per day. We are also providing urgent medical care to hundreds of people a day at Kings Hospital as a team of doctors and nurses from Medical Teams International (MTI) arrived on Saturday. We are working on shipping in medical supplies and more doctors into the hospital. We are also providing funding to support the operational costs and are close to setting up three operating theatres for orthopedic surgery.”
“There are reports that people are scared and many remain in the streets as aftershocks are still being felt and damage to buildings and infrastructure is widespread and considerable.” says Laurie Cook, CEO of World Relief Canada, “ Many thousands of people are going to be left in a desperate situation and in great need of our assistance. In addition to what we are currently doing, we will also respond through non-medical basic survival needs by the distribution of essential food items, tarpaulins and blankets for shelter, water, and other essential supplies which will be determined on a community by community basis.”
The Canadian Minister of International Cooperation announced that Canada will match individual donations made between January 12 and February 12, 2010 to registered Canadian charitable organizations, such as World Relief Canada, to support humanitarian and early recovery assistance to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
“Many Canadians are deeply concerned about the suffering and loss of life as a result of this catastrophe in Haiti,” said Minister Beverly Oda. “Canadian citizens have shown time and again their generosity with countries in urgent need, and our government is prepared to match their contributions dollar for dollar.”
To donate to World Relief Canada online click here or call them at 1-800-567-8190 toll-free.
