Haiti Earthquake 1-year commemoration

(OTTAWA, Jan. 12, 2011) The Canadian Red Cross thanks donors, volunteers and supporters for their contributions following the Jan. 12 earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. The Canadian Red Cross raised $199 million from individual Canadians, corporations and governments including the federal government matching program. 

“One year on, we mourn alongside the people of Haiti for the deep losses they have incurred,” said Conrad Sauvé, secretary general and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. “However, we are also encouraged by the generous outpouring of support from Canadians and remain committed to working alongside the Haitian Red Cross and the people of Haiti for the long term.”

Following the earthquake, over 1.3 million people were left homeless, infrastructure was destroyed, several government buildings collapsed and approximately 200,000 people were killed in a country already vulnerable to poverty.

The Red Cross took immediate action resulting in its largest single-country humanitarian response. Red Cross Societies from around the world deployed staff, resources and supplies to help. Hundreds of millions of dollars poured in from generous donors around the world to support relief efforts.

In the months that followed, the full scale of the disaster came to light including challenges of land and space, provision of health care and access to clean water. Further crises befell the country ranging from the rainy season starting in June, a major storm in September and Hurricane Tomas in November. Now, the people of Haiti are facing a deadly cholera outbreak, a disease that is preventable but largely unknown among the population.

Red Cross Action:

Since Jan. 12, 2010 the Red Cross provided emergency aid including clean water, tents, health care and sanitation and continues to provide many of these services today. Following the cholera outbreak, the Canadian Red Cross deployed an emergency field hospital in partnership with the federal government. The hospital continues to treat patients every day and provides preventative education programs. The Red Cross has also trained and prepared Haitians for further emergencies such as hurricanes and heavy rains. And, the Red Cross is focused on longer-term needs in Haiti by building thousands of shelters for families and developing health care infrastructure in some communities.

The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and more than 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Our mission is to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

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For interview requests please call:

Canadian Red Cross media line 613-740-1994

Posted:  January 12, 2011