Red Cross thanks North Bay for supporting Haiti relief efforts

Canadian Red Cross - North Bay Branch
News Release

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As we spend today marking the one year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, the Canadian Red Cross is thanking the generous residents of North Bay for their support. Today, your generosity continues to support on-going Red Cross relief and recovery operations.

“This response would not be possible without the support from this community,” said Melissa Yerlitz, Community Services Coordinator. “Immediately after this disaster, we saw a tremendous outpouring of generosity as individuals, schools, community groups and businesses opened their hearts to help the people of Haiti. On behalf of the Canadian Red Cross team I would like to say thank you.”
Here in North Bay approximately $91,000 has been raised for what has been the largest single country response in the Red Cross Movement’s history.

Your donations helped the Red Cross provide: over 1 million in relief items; 265,000 people with medical treatment; and roughly 860,000 people with emergency shelter supplies. Approximately 2.5 million litres of clean water is being produced and distributed each day.

Last month, the Canadian Red Cross deployed a team of doctors and nurses along with its new field hospital to the city of Carrefour to help respond to the cholera outbreak. This field hospital, created in partnership with the Government of Canada, continues to provide round-the-clock treatment to patients.

In addition, the Canadian Red Cross is committed to working alongside the Haitian Red Cross throughout the long-term recovery, reconstruction and development phases. One of the main areas of focus is providing shelter. Hurricane and earthquake resistant shelters are currently being constructed for families in Jacmel and Leogane. About 3,000 homes have been completed, with the goal of constructing enough shelters to house 7,500 families.

“There is no doubt that there is a long road ahead, but because of your support we will have the capacity to continue to be there to help Haiti rebuild from this disaster,” said Yerlitz.

For more information about the Canadian Red Cross’ work in Haiti, go to www.redcross.ca/haiti2010 .

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