United Nations Association of New Zealand (Inc)
Te Roopu Whakakotahi Whenua o Aotearoa

The Peoples Movement for the United Nations
Member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations

Press Release
Haiti Earthquake

15/01/2010

The United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNANZ) would like to express our deepest condolences to the Haitian people who are suffering greatly and trying to come to terms with the catastrophe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

We would also like to extend our condolences to those grieving the loss of United Nations colleagues and family in Haiti, including New Zealanders. Because we are a part of the United Nations family, there is always a deep sense of tragedy when we hear of losses to our United Nations compatriots, from anywhere in the world.

We welcome the efforts of many government search and rescue, medical and civil defence teams, Non-Government Organisations and others on the ground in Haiti and those on their way. The United Nations has several agencies working in Haiti already providing search and rescue, co-ordination support to the government, food, water and shelter and has mobilised much more support to arrive shortly. One agency, the United Nations World Food Programme has provided food for 3000 people so far and is mobilising to provide food for two million people for six months.

We would like to urge the New Zealand people and the New Zealand Government to continue to contribute to the many relief appeals, to allow the much needed humanitarian efforts to begin in earnest. The United Nations will be launching an official ‘flash appeal’ to governments shortly after initial needs assessments are done.
New Zealand based agencies collecting for relief in Haiti include:

The Red Cross - www.redcross.org.nz
Christian World Service - www.cws.org.nz
UNICEF New Zealand - www.unicef.org.nz
Oxfam New Zealand - www.oxfam.org.nz
Save the Children New Zealand - www.savethechildren.org.nz
World Vision New Zealand - www.worldvision.org.nz
Tear Fund New Zealand - www.tearfund.org.nz
ADRA New Zealand - www.adra.org.nz
Caritas New Zealand - www.caritas.org.nz
Rotary New Zealand - www.rotary.org.nz

Antony Vallyon
National President

ENDS

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