Irish Charities

The heads of Irish charities currently carrying out relief efforts in Haiti will update the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs on the progress of their humanitarian work and the latest situation on the ground in Haiti, tomorrow, (27th) at 3:30 pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.

Tom Arnold, CEO of Concern, Leslie Buckley, Chairman of Haven (both of whom have recently returned from Haiti) and Mr Noel Wardick, Head of the International Department, Irish Red Cross will all appear at tomorrow’s meeting.

All these agencies are currently operating relief missions in Haiti so will be in position to inform Committee members of the present state of affairs on the island, the challenges of co-ordinating the relief effort, the security situation and the long term prospects for the country.

Committee Chairman, Dr Michael Woods TD said;
“Two weeks after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, the Irish public have responded fantastically in supporting the Haiti emergency effort and we are rightly proud of the Irish aid agencies who are on the ground working in the most trying of circumstances. I was also very pleased to hear yesterday that Ireland is to send a second consignment of 40 tonnes of essential humanitarian supplies for Haiti.
The Committee is anxious to learn the latest reports from Haiti and find out the progress of the aid efforts. We would also like to hear about how the various agencies are co-ordinating their work and address concerns that the flow of humanitarian supplies has been slow.

Concern are operating a full scale response in St Martin and Martissant, two of the poorest areas in Port-au-Prince. This involves water distributions, soap distribution, temporary latrines and shelter.

Haven has pledged to build a minimum of 5,000 permanent homes in Haiti following the emergency relief programme. It is also supplying blankets, plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, small generators and fuel in conjunction with GOAL.

The Red Cross is currently managing a number of field hospitals each catering for up to 200 patients a day as well as distributing supplies.

The 7.0-magnitude quake, which hit the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on 12th January, is the worst earthquake to have hit the country in 200 years.