Haiti Earthquake Appeal

OTTAWA , Jan. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - The devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th affects thousands of people. Communications to Haiti have been extremely difficult today, and it has been very difficult to gather news about the projects and people that Help the Aged Canada (HTAC) supports. Help the Aged works with several groups and individuals, mainly in the northern and southern parts of Haiti .

HTAC invites people willing to donate for the immediate emergency relief to contact the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, part of the Caritas network, one of the most reliable humanitarian networks. To contact Development and Peace, please phone [phone] or visit their official website at www.devp.org.

Together with HelpAge International, HTAC is assessing the needs of older people and will shortly develop specific projects in its own area of expertise. "We are also gathering information about the beneficiaries of our sponsorship program. For these activities public support is going to be crucial," stated Jacques Bertrand , Executive Director of HTAC.

Help the Aged ( Canada ), founded in 1975, is a non-denominational, volunteer based international development organization and is the only registered charity in Canada dedicated exclusively to assisting elderly people living in poverty in Canada and the developing world. HTAC offers programs for the elderly in 11 countries. Its development programs are sponsored by CIDA and focus on the areas of primary health care, agricultural development, emergency assistance and sponsorship.

For further information: Brenda Packer, Public Relations Coordinator, Help the Aged Canada, Toll free number: 1-800-648-1111, Official website: www.helptheaged.ca