Haiti Earthquake: Ban Ki-moon calls for international support

United Nations, New York, 13 January 2010 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today issued an urgent call to the international community to assist Haiti following yesterday's catastrophic earthquake that has devastated the impoverished Caribbean nation's capital.

Buildings and infrastructure in Port-au-Prince suffered extensive damage, while basic services, including water and electricity are near the brink of collapse. The full extent of casualties, which could number in the hundreds, is still unknown, Mr. Ban told reporters in New York.

"There is no doubt that we are facing a major humanitarian emergency and that a major relief effort will be required", he said.

Expressing gratitude to nations rushing aid to the earthquake's victims, he called for the world to "come to Haitis aid in this hour of need."

View the Media Stakeout on the situation in Haiti ( Real media, 23 minutes):
http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/stakeout/2010/so100113am1.rm

News story:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33470&Cr=haiti&Cr1=

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• United Nations
• UN
• Secretary-General
• Ban Ki-moon
• Humanitarian affairs
• Security Council
• Haiti
• Earthquake
• Caribbean
• Port-au-Prince
• Damage
• Humanitarian emergency
• Victim
• Dead
• Natural catastrophe
• International support