MESSAGE: 7.0 HAITI EARTHQUAKE UPDATE #4 Jamaica is staging area for flights into Haiti (As at 9.00 PM, January 14, 2010)
The Event:
Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The earthquake has resulted in catastrophic damage to the capital Port-Au-Prince and significant loss of life. It is estimated that approximately three (3) million people have been affected.
Reports suggest that several thousand people remain trapped in collapsed buildings making search and rescue a critical need.
Hospitals and health facilities have been severely affected. Immediate health priorities include: treatment of people with major trauma injuries; preventing the infection of wounds; provision of clean water; sanitation; and ensuring breast-feeding is continued.
Communication options remain limited.
Accessibility
Only military and humanitarian flights are being allowed into Haiti at this time. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for facilitating access by air.
Jamaica has offered the airport in Kingston as a staging area into Haiti. Entities proposing flights into Haiti are encouraged to make contact with the Director of Civil Aviation in Jamaica.
Both sea ports in Haiti have been damaged. There have been reports of extensive damage to roads.
Regional Response Actions
CDEMA has established contact with the Department of Civil Protection in Haiti who are regrouping and mobilising resources. HAM Radio communication with Haiti has been achieved with some success though limited and is being monitored.
The CARICOM high level delegation left for Haiti today and are expected to arrive in Haiti tomorrow as scheduled. CDEMA's Executive Director is with the delegation.
The Regional Response Assessment team will now be deployed to Haiti on Saturday January 15, 2010 instead of tomorrow as previously advised due to some unforeseen delays.
The Government of Saint Lucia has launched a Haiti Earthquake Appeal Fund.
The Turks and Caicos Islands have pledged heavy duty equipment and operators as well as medical supplies and personnel.
Pledges
Pledges continue to be received:
i. DHL has confirmed that shipping of relief supplies will be done in conjunction with the Red Cross. DHL Barbados office has also pledge financial aid.
ii. The Government of Canada has pledged 1500 VHF radios and the value of $10,000.000 Canadian dollars worth of batteries.
CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number is 1(246) 425 0386