Plan charity raises €700,000 to help Haiti quake victims

16 January 2010

Plan charity raises €700,000 to help Haiti quake victims

CHILDREN’S charity Plan International has already raised over €700,000 in emergency aid to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake – but much more is needed.

The first wave of the operation will provide water, food, hygiene packs and counselling to children and adults in the various makeshift camps in Port-Au-Prince, Jacmel and other quake-affected regions of the devastated Caribbean island.

Plan International’s Director of Humanitarian Response & Disasters, Roger Yates said the money would save the lives of children in the region.

“The situation out there is utterly beyond anyone’s imagination. The needs of the children and their parents are immediate and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future,” he said.

“Fortunately Plan has a lot of local knowledge, having worked in Haiti for more than 35 years, so we are in a strong position to help communities survive, recover and rebuild.  This new money will be a real help but it’s vital everyone gives what they can as the need will be far greater in the coming weeks and months.”

Plan Haiti Director Rezene Tesfamariam said it was a race against time to save people trapped under the rubble.

“There are people still alive underneath - you can hear them crying for help, but time is running out. It is beyond the means of individuals to reach them,” he said.

"As part of my work I have been travelling round the city to find out where we can provide assistance and I see dead bodies lying in the street everywhere.”

Plan, which has been in the country since 1973, is working closely with government, emergency services and other organisations to respond to the immediate needs of children in the region and to assess the situation.  Plan staff reported severe damage in Jacmel and Croix-des-Bouquets, two of the areas where it operates. 

Plan Ireland’s office is appealing for funds to help protect children and provide the help and support they will need.

“Our priority at the moment is to support the rescue efforts and set up safe places for children and their families. Children are always the most vulnerable in such times of hopelessness but with your support we can help bring some light to those who are suffering” says Plan Ireland’s CEO David Dalton.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can call freephone 1800 829 829.  To find out more about Plan’s work please go to www.plan.ie.

For press info please contact Fuzion in Dublin or Cork.