DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE receives $250,000 from Quebec Government

MONTREAL , Jan. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is very pleased to acknowledge with thanks the donation of $250,000 for its relief and reconstruction efforts in Haiti from the Government of Quebec Ministry of International Relations.

This amount will have a significant impact on DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE's emergency relief efforts, which are currently underway. As the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is part of one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world. It recently sent two of its staff members to Haiti to work with the Caritas team on the ground, which includes CRS (Catholic Relief Services) USA and Caritas Haiti , to distribute food, water, shelter and other emergency needs.

"Eight 20-ton trucks organised by our partners have already delivered rations of hope to Haiti . And others are on the way. We are doing what is necessary to increase the momentum and are mobilizing for an operation that will last several months," said DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE staff member Danielle Leblanc from Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic .

Since news of the devastating earthquake broke last week, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has raised over $400,000 in donations from individuals across the country, and is eligible to have funds matched by the Government of Canada . Over the next few weekends, Catholic parishes across Canada will hold special collections for DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE after the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that it was encouraging all dioceses to support this campaign of the organization.

"We are extremely touched by this outpouring of generosity. Especially, since our experience in emergencies is to be present in the long-term when the road to reconstruction begins. For example, we are still involved in the Tsunami reconstruction five years later, and anticipate that our involvement in Haiti will continue for many more years," said Michael Casey , Executive Director of DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE.

Donations to DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE for the Haiti crisis can be made by phone [phone]), on our website (www.devp.org) or by sending a cheque made out to Development and Peace (please indicate Haiti Emergency ) to the following address:

    
    Development and Peace
    1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. W, 3rd Floor
    Montreal QC H3G 1T7
    

For further information: or interviews: Kelly Di Domenico, Communications Officer, [phone] ext. 365, [email protected]