Oxfam Aware Of Situation Following Large Earthquake In Haiti And Poised To Respond

Jane Cocking, Humanitarian Director, Oxfam, said that it is still too early to assess the full severity the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. Cocking added that early signs are not good with communications across the country.


"Oxfam has its emergency response team for Latin America based in Haiti so we are well prepared, with a public health, water and sanitation team in Port-au-Prince ready to respond. We also have emergency supplies in Panama that we are preparing to send in as soon as possible."


Kristie van de Wetering, a former Oxfam employee still based in Port-au-Prince described the situation as "very chaotic with houses in rubbles everywhere. There is a blanket of dust rising from the valley south of the capital. We can hear people calling for help from every corner. The aftershocks are ongoing and making people very nervous."


Cocking said: "We hope to know more in the coming hours. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere where 85% of people already live in poverty, given the desperate needs that people face on a day to day basis, this earthquake is grim news for the poor people of Haiti."


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Source: Oxfam