20100115 International aid efforts to Haiti.wmv

International aid efforts under way

A 7.0 magnitude tremor struck Haiti on Tuesday, causing heavy casualties. Among the rescuers joining the international aid effort, Taiwan sent an emergency search and rescue crew to Port au Prince on Wednesday night, Taiwan time. They were expected to arrive on Thursday. In the meantime, Tzu Chi has prepared survival kits, 400,000 portions of instant rice, and 50,000 eco-friendly blankets - ready to be shipped to Haiti when they get the go-ahead. Tzu Chi is also planning a global fundraising campaign to raise money for quake victims.

Silent cries of quake victims

Port au Prince is a scene of collapsed buildings and broken masonry. Without heavy machinery or sufficient manpower, rescue work is making slow progress.

Food, water, tents needed

With reports that the death toll will run into the tens of thousands, the Red Cross estimates that one-third of Haiti's population, or around 3 million people, will need food, water and tents.

Tzu Chi aid at the ready

After talking to the executive director of Tzu Chi-USA on the telephone, volunteer Xing Min(邢敏) says although the situation in Haiti is very serious, the Tzu Chi team will only go if the safety of its members is guaranteed.

Tzu Chi volunteer, Xing Min:" In terms of communication, all contact has been lost, so we do not have a grasp of the security situation on the ground. In the current circumstances, if we can't contact the UN peace keeping force to secure our safety, we won't go."

400,000 instant meals

While the team waits for the call to go to Haiti, aid supplies from Taiwan are ready, including 400,000 portions of instant rice, and 50,000 blankets. The Tzu Chi US headquarters called in supplies from all over the country.

Tzu Chi volunteer, Xing Min :"In our US stocks, there were already over 25,000 blankets. Of course, we're still preparing clothes, medical equipment and supplies. And there are also some water purifiers, and water containers, which are being prepared."

Search and rescue team departs

As Tzu Chi readies to deliver the aid to to the most seriously affected areas, back in Taiwan the Ministry of the Interior's search and rescue team, made up of 23 crew members from the north, center and south of the island, as well as two sniffer dogs, departed for Haiti on Wednesday night.

Special rescue team member, Lin Qianzhi :" We're prepared to immediately rescue people in the golden period. We have demolishing equipment, and heat detectors. And at least a week's supply of water and food for ourselves. "

Experienced sniffer dogs

The two sniffer dogs took part in search and rescue missions after Typhoon Morakot. One went to Indonesia after the Sumatra earthquake in 2000, and the Bam quake in Iran in 2003.

Haiti rescue team

Human members of the team have helped in the Southeast Asia tsunami, and the Yogyakarta earthquake three years ago in Indonesia.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Tzu Chi
• Haiti Earthquake
• Aid Relief