Local Rotarians respond quickly to help aid effort

The earthquake - which the United Nations has described as the worst disaster it has ever faced - has left tens of thousands dead, and around 1.5 million people homeless. Rescuers are still working around the clock in the search and rescue of survivors buried beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Corpses heaped on the streets, which were posing a health hazard, have been disposed of in unidentified mass graves, and doctors treating the injured have been forced to do so without vital drugs or equipment. The arrival of aid has been hampered by unloading delays at Port-au-Prince airport, severe damage to its port, and the poor state of roads.

In addition, civil unrest has broken out with the looting of shops, and shootings by rival gangs.

Local Rotarians, moved by the televised scenes of chaos and human misery in the country, have already mobilised the delivery of ShelterBoxes to Haiti.

A ShelterBox is a box of relief supplies designed to help an extended family of 10 persons survive a disaster for at least six months. It contains items such as a custom-designed ten-person tent, mosquito nets, waterproof ponchos and groundmats, collapsible water containers and water purifying equipment, thermal fleece blankets, stove and cooking equipment and a toolkit.

"We have despatched 4 of these boxes to Haiti already at a cost of 2,000," said Mr Martin Sayliss of the Rotary Club of Newtownabbey.

"They were sent at the weekend and Rotarians in Haiti have met ShelterBox volunteers at the airport to receive them.

"Over the next two to three weeks, a Rotarian - Dr Surene, will lead the efforts of Haiti's 16 Rotary clubs to ensure the relief is deployed effectively to the thousands of homeless in need.

"Each box contains a disaster relief tent that houses 10 people and other essential items. Also , the box itself can be used to help purify water."

President of the Rotary Club of Newtownabbey, Mr Chris Wray said: "Our Rotary Club is involved in service to the community throughout the year, but we also have a tradition of responding quickly to emergencies like this.

"We remember the generosity of the people of Newtownabbey after the Pakistani earthquake and the South East Asia tsunami and we know we can depend on them once again."

In addition to the ShelterBoxes, members of the local Rotary Club will be collecting for the disaster relief outside the Asda store in Ballyclare on Friday and Saturday, and at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown on Tuesday.

All donations will be gratefully received to help the needy in Haiti. Alternatively, cheques towards the aid effort can be sent to: Mr A. J. Gordon, c/o Rotary Club of Newtownabbey, 11 Church Avenue, Newtownabbey, BT37 0PJ.