Overwhelming generosity funds Oxfam’s immediate short-term work in Haiti

Oxfam Ireland Press Release
29 January 2010

Funds still needed to help Haiti recover and rebuild

Oxfam Ireland said today that thanks to the public’s generosity their short-term emergency relief work in Haiti is now funded. Donations for Haiti are still desperately needed and will go towards the essential work of helping Haitians to recover and rebuild their lives in the months and years ahead.

Jim Clarken, Executive Director of Oxfam Ireland, said, "The response of the public to the Haiti Earthquake has been tremendous and provides vital funds our short term relief work and will support essential rehabilitation and development in future."

Oxfam is still increasing its aid effort in Haiti to reach more and more people. So far it has reached 85,000 people with water and sanitation and temporary shelter and plans over the on-coming days to reach up to 25,000 more. Oxfam is also giving people cash for clearing up their neighbourhood and digging latrines and handing out essential hygiene kits.

Oxfam says that the longer term needs will be great given the scale of destruction and the level of pre-existing poverty in Haiti. "Our immediate priority has been to reach as many people as possible with emergency relief while also planning for longer term rebuilding," Clarken added.

This will involve helping to rehabilitate water and sanitation systems in poorer urban neighbourhoods and helping people to increase their food production in sustainable ways.

"Oxfam has been working in Haiti since 1978 and through our networks we will help local communities to have a voice in how the government and the international community go about rebuilding Haiti"

Oxfam said that due to the scale of the devastation and the level of poverty in Haiti it will take a great deal of aid sustained over many years before the people of Haiti recover from this disaster.

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Notes to Editor

Oxfam Ireland is an independent member of Oxfam International- a group of thirteen non-governmental agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world.

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