'Give what you can to Haiti appeal'

Kathy Morrow, Special Projects Manager with Concern Worldwide, has urged people to give what they can to the emergency appeal launched by the charity in response to the massive earthquake which devastated the impoverished Caribbean country last week.

Concern, which has been working in Haiti since 1994, is trying to raise millions of pounds in emergency funding for desperately needed food, water, shelter and medicine.

"This is an absolutely terrible disaster in what was already one of the world's poorest countries. There is a massive need for all sorts of aid in Haiti, including the very basics such as food and water. I would just appeal for people to give what they can to help the relief effort," Kathy said.

Having worked with the charity in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone in recent years, Kathy is confident that Concern can play a vital role in helping tackle the horrific humanitarian crisis which is currently unfolding in Haiti.

She explained how the charity has already been working there to help people rebuild their lives after another recent disaster.

"The Concern team has been providing hurricane relief since 2008 to 1,269 families and helped more than 8,000 others restore their ability to produce food with cash-for-work opportunities.

"Considerable funding for this work has come from people in Northern Ireland. Families from here have supported our work distributing seeds, tools and livestock to affected communities as well as providing long-term support to health, education and community work in Haiti. We hope that the generosity of families here will continue to assist Haitians to rebuild their lives after this latest disaster."

News reports from Haiti earlier this week claimed that up to 200,000 people may have died in last Tuesday's earthquake, with many thousands more left homeless and without basic essentials such as food and water.

Concern staff have been working in some of the poorest parts of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, distributing critical medical supplies, disinfectant, surgical gloves and water purification tablets. They are also helping to provide shelter for an estimated 25,000 people as well as setting up nutrition centres for children under one.

To make a donation to Concern's emergency appeal telephone 0800 410 510 or log on to www.concern.net. Cheques made out to 'Concern Worldwide' can be posted to: Concern, 47 Frederick Street, Belfast, BT1 2LW.

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army is also asking the public to support its relief efforts in Haiti following the earthquake.

Donations can be made online at www.salvationarmy.org.uk or by telephoning 020 7367 4777.