ReliefWeb

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12. The quake struck 10 miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince, toppling the presidential palace and leaving homes in ruins. Powerful aftershocks, some as strong as 5.9 in magnitude, continued throughout the night and into the morning.

Reports of injuries and death tolls are still unknown due to communications problems. But thousands are feared to be dead, while many more remain trapped in collapsed buildings. Their homes destroyed, people are in the streets with nowhere to go. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is prone to natural disasters and ill-equipped to respond to such disasters. In 2008, the country was battered by four successive tropical storms and hurricanes that flooded the island, destroyed crops, and left thousands homeless.

The United States has pledged its full support to Haiti, dispatching emergency response teams to help with search and rescue efforts. This earthquake is the most powerful to strike Haiti in more than 200 years.

Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility. LWR is a member of Action by Churches Together.

LWR IS RESPONDING

The coming days are critical as teams dispatch to Haiti to conduct search and rescue efforts. Lutheran World Relief is responding to the affected communities through its partners on the ground in Haiti. LWR anticipates a large response. Every dollar donated to this life-saving effort is critical to providing the necessary emergency support to the people of Haiti.

PLEASE HELP by making a donation to the Haiti Earthquake fund. LWR accepts donations by phone at 800-LWR-LWR-2, online at lwr.org or by mailing a check or money order to:

Lutheran World Relief , Haiti Earthquake , P.O. Box 17061

Baltimore, MD 21298-9832.

Your gift will be used for the Haiti relief efforts until needs there are met. After that, further gifts will be used to help LWR respond where the need is greatest. Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.

MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802 office, 443-220-3269 cell, esollie@lwr.org