The DEC Haiti Appeal
On the 12th of January a 7.0 scale earthquake struck Haiti near the capital Port-au-Prince.
As you will know it is clear that we are facing a major humanitarian crisis. Haiti needs help and it needs it now. The scenes on our television screens have deeply shocked us all.
I am supporting the emergency appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which brings together leading UK charities such as Save the Children, Oxfam and World Vision. You can support the DEC appeal by making a donation - calling 0370 60 60 900 or visit www.dec.org.uk.
The UK public has given very generously over recent days but I fear yet more assistance will be needed so please give if you can.
The UK Government is also assisting with the aid effort. A 64-strong UK search and rescue team, including firefighters from across the UK, was deployed on the 14th of January to help with rescue efforts. As some of you may have seen they have helped to pull numerous survivors from the wreckage and their efforts are to be applauded.
We have so far pledged 20 million, which is already being used for work including:
1m for the Haitian Red Cross to provide food, shelter, clean water and other immediate needs for 20,000 families
2m for the World Food Programme for transport, communications and base camps to help with the logistics of getting relief where it's needed
300,000 for the World Health Organisation for disease surveillance, to help prevent the spread of epidemics such as malaria and dengue fever
1m to help the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs bring in more than 30 extra staff to help bolster humanitarian coordination;
There is an overwhelming requirement for food, water, sanitation, shelter and medicine among the people who have been made homeless. Our initial assessments show a level of humanitarian need which would severely test the international response in any circumstances. But the impact of this earthquake is magnified because it has hit a country that was already desperately poor and historically volatile.
The Department for International Development will continue to provide support to a range of international agencies and appeals. Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Development, has been in close contact with senior officials from the United States and other countries, as well as key humanitarian organisations to help co-ordinate efforts.
You can keep up to date with ongoing aid efforts online www.dfid.gov.uk
Once again I would urge readers to visit www.dec.org.uk and help in any way they can.
To keep up to date on what I'm doing stop by my website http://www.michaelfoster.org.uk/ .
You can also receive a monthly update on my activities by sending an email to mp@1066.net with 'MPFree' in the subject line.
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Weather for Hastings
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
