CECI receives 5 tons of survival supplies for Haitian disaster victims

MONTREAL , Jan. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - CECI has confirmed that 5 tons of survival supplies announced earlier by Canada's Minister of International Cooperation, Ms Bev Oda , have arrived at the Port-au-Prince airport. The CECI-Haiti team is currently unloading the materials from the plane and onto its trucks. Ms. Myriam Fehmiu reported live from the field that: "we have arrived safely, 19 palettes of supplies are on the airport tarmac and we are quickly loading them onto CECI trucks."

The kits are designed for 5-person families and have all the necessary items needed to cook, as well as a bucket for storing water. These kits will enable families to prepare their own meals, cook food over heat and store water in an adequate container.

CECI has been mandated by Haitian Civil Protection (HCP) to receive the supplies arriving on the plane. CECI also received formal authorisation from the HCP to act on their behalf when necessary.

Distribution of supplies will begin momentarily with help from local partners-including the Haitian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce-who are ready to act and trained in distribution methods. All of CECI-Haiti is at the ready and waiting.

During this time, water and high-energy biscuits continue to be distributed in different areas, particularly at the Diquini Hospital. Furthermore, a convoy of supplies will be coming from the Dominican Republic . We must continue the uninterrupted distribution of food and water to reassure the affected population.

It is important to remember that CECI, who has been working for more than 40 years and is active as soon as a catastrophe takes place, has a solid network of local partners, and this network contributes to facilitating humanitarian aid operations.

Our emergency relief experts in the field, and our CECI spokesperson, Luck Mervil, are available for interview. Communication has been re-established with Port-au-Prince , even though certain difficulties persist.

We would like to thank all the generous donors and invite the population to remain engaged and continue to support the work undertaken by CECI and its partners in assisting the Haitian people! Victims of this disaster can count on close to $1,250,000 . This amount will be matched by the Canadian Government.

On-line donations are accepted at the following Web site: www.ceci.ca

Donations can be made by phone by calling the following toll-free number: 1 877 875-2324 or by mail to the following address: CECI ( Haiti Earthquake SOS), 3000 rue Omer-Lavallée, Montréal (QC) H1Y 3R8.

For further information: CECI Interviews: Carine Guidicelli, Communications and Fundraising Director, [phone]; Luck Mervil Interviews: Carlos A. Godoy L., Press Secretary, [phone]