Digging deep to help earthquake victims

Amazingly no-one was injured when a mammoth earthquake hit two weeks ago toppling the buildings which were home to over 200 homeless children.

The death toll of the devastating natural disaster could rise to 500,000 and has left two million homeless.

Haiti is one of the countries in which Drop Inn Ministries has a constant presence having stepped in to ease the plight of the local people in the politically volatile region a decade ago.

"Drop Inn Ministries has been supporting two orphanages there for the past 10 years, " Edwina Chambers from the charity told the Times.

"Both were completely flattened by the earthquake but miraculously not one person was injured.

"The priority now though is to get people out to help rebuild the orphanages for the youngsters."

So far over 4,000 has been donated to Drop Inn Ministries by local people including 3,000 from Church of God, Ballymoney and another 500 from TBF Thompson.

"Ballymoney people are absolutely fantastic when it comes to helping others," said Edwina.

"Again when their money is needed they have no hesitation, they are fabulous."

While Drop Inn Ministries welcomes clothing and other items to be re-sold for charity throughout their branches, Edwina says that due to the urgent need for relief in Haiti, cash is of much more importance on this occasion.

If you wish to make a donation simply call in to Drop Inn Ministries at Castle Croft, Ballymoney.

Thousands of pounds have been raised throughout north Antrim since the earthquake rocked Haiti.

Val and Roger Deeny organised a special tea morning last week to raise money at the Old Rectory, Dunseverick and similar events elsewhere have also taken place.

The generous congregation at Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney dug deep at Sunday's service last week, raising over 2,000 for the Haitian people.

"Of course everyone has seen the pictures on television of what has happened there," said Rev David Park.

"Quite a few people came to me to say they would like to help so on Sunday we invited donations.

"We are just figuring out how to get the money to those in need of it, but it will go directly to those people."

Despite the short notice, the congregation donated over 2,000 to the appeal - a total made more remarkable given members of the church had donated 13,000 towards missionary work the previous Sunday.

Rev Park said those who wished to donate to the appeal through the church could still do so in the coming days.

Last week's "miracle" rescues of at least seven people trapped beneath ruins came as hope faded for tens of thousands of others entombed in the devastated capital of Port-au-Prince.

In the town of Jacmel, 27 miles south of Port-au-Prince, search teams demolishing a house found Elisabeth Joassaint, aged 23 days, alive after seven days buried in the wreckage of her home.

US troops have fanned out across the capital to provide secure routes for the delivery of emergency to an estimated 250,000 people in urgent need of food and water.

The Haitian government says about 200,000 have died, with 80,000 buried in mass graves.

The European Commission has raised its estimate of homeless to two million from 1.5 million and said 250,000 people needed urgent aid. Many badly injured Haitians are also still awaiting surgery.

British aid worker Sophie Hensley spoke of the decision to stop rescue efforts so relief workers could focus on helping survivors.

"You get to the point where the living want relief. They don't want rescue work any more — they want help, food, water and shelter. We still think it's worth checking for survivors, but at a certain point you have to look after the living."

Of her team's 15-year earthquake experience, she said this was the worst damage they had seen: "Parts of the city are completely flattened, and there are still dead bodies lying around. They are burning tires to get rid of the smell."

There are 11,500 American troops helping with the relief effort with 7,000 UN peacekeepers.

The Disasters Emergency Committee said British donations to its Haiti appeal was over 30 million.

Chief executive Brendan Gormley said: "Exactly a week on from the earthquake that hit Haiti, we continue to be stunned by the generosity of the UK public."

The Government has also pledged 20 million and the Department for International Development said Britain would send a Royal Fleet Auxiliary supplies ship loaded with aid.

Aid agencies said they were still facing problems getting supplies to those in need and feared that the desperation for food could erupt into further violence.