Humanity First Responds to Haiti Earthquake Catastrophe

CONCORD, ON, Jan. 15 /CNW/ - An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck Haiti on January 12, 17 km south of Port Au Prince at 5pm EST and caused heavy damage. Several aftershocks were reported after the most devastating earthquake ever recorded in the country. There are reports of unprecedented number of casualties. The earthquake occurred in the highly populated region of Haiti and has affected critical infrastructure and humanitarian projects.

Humanity First alerted its Disaster Response Team and volunteers are on standby for deployment. First team of medical and non-medical support staff is leaving for Haiti on Friday. Another team of volunteers from Humanity First Canada will leave on Saturday.

Humanity First is accepting donations for the relief work. Please visit www.humanityfirst.ca to donate online or send cheques to Humanity First.

Humanity First has recently responded to natural disasters in Bangladesh , Philippines and Indonesia . During the relief work, food water and medicine were distributed to victims of flood and earthquake.

For further information, please visit our website at www.humanityfirst.ca

Notes to editors:

Humanity First is an International Non-Profit Charitable Organization established to promote and safeguard the preservation of human life and dignity. Humanity First is a non-political, non-sectarian international relief and development agency that works with communities around the globe to improve the quality of life for some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. Humanity First has been granted a special consultative status with the United Nation's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). For further information please visit our website http://www.humanityfirst.ca

For further information: N. Ahmed, Media Relations Coordinator, Humanity First Canada, Tel: [phone]; Dr. Aslam Daud, Chairman, Humanity First Canada, Tel: [phone]