CF contributes to disaster relief for Haiti
by Virginia Beaton
Trident Staff
Within hours of the devastating 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, the CF was formulating a response on behalf of the Canadian government.
In Halifax, HMC Ships Athabaskan and Halifax, carrying 500 sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen, departed for Haiti on Thursday, January 14 as the maritime component of the CF response. They arrived on site in Haiti on Tuesday, January 19: the Athabaskan in Leogane, the Halifax in Jacmel. Both vessels have been sending teams ashore who are helping by clearing roads, delivering aid and recovering human remains.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. According to statistics from www.unicef.org, its population in 2007 was just over nine million, with approximately 80 per cent living below the poverty line and a literacy rate of 60 per cent. The epicentre of the quake was 15 km southwest of the country's capital city of Port au Prince and current casualty estimates have been increased to 200,000.
Donations for Haitian relief may be made through many organizations including the Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF Canada or World Vision Canada.
Check the January 25, 2010 issue of the Trident for ongoing coverage of the relief mission of Haiti