GET INVOLVED IN THE RELIEF EFFORT BY DONATING FOOD AND FUNDS

A major earthquake has struck Haiti just ten miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Local officials are reporting a catastrophe of major proportions. Desperately poor, socially benighted and politically volatile, Haiti could scarcely be less well equipped to organise a massive relief effort after an earthquake.

Magnitude of the Catastrophe

The country — including the presidential palace and the UN headquarters — lies in ruins. The death toll is likely to run into thousands, three million people will be affected, and the scale of the relief effort will be enormous. There is also a far broader point. Haiti’s recent history demonstrates the failure of several ideas that the West holds most dear: functioning democracy has been elusive, the international aid effort has been ineffectual, and America’s interest in Haiti — despite being right on its doorstep — has been at best intermittent.

Ottawa Matching Every Dollar

Ottawa will match every dollar Canadians give to the relief effort in Haiti, the government said Thursday morning.

“Many Canadians are deeply concerned about the suffering and loss of life as a result of this catastrophe in Haiti,” said Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation.

“Our government is prepared to match their contributions dollar for dollar,” up to a maximum of $50 million.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will hand out these funds to Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations.

The death toll from Haiti’s earthquake could be between 45,000 and 50,000, with a further 3 million people hurt or homeless in an increasingly desperate country, a senior Haitian Red Cross official said Thursday.

How You Can Help

The Red Cross response was immediate. Local volunteers continue to support evacuation activities and provide much needed shelter, clean water and medical support. The Canadian Red Cross has contributed $200,000 from its International Disaster Relief Fund and Canadian aid workers are on standby to be deployed to Haiti if needed.

Canadians are encouraged to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a financial donation to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund. Donations can be made online at www.redcross.ca/helpnow , by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111 or at any Red Cross office.