UN Chief sends message of support to Haiti

The leader of the United Nations has sent a special message of comfort and support to the suffering people of Haiti, assuring and promising them that they are NOT alone in their hour of greatest need, brought about by last Saturday`s grim 7.2 earthquake.

The lashing rains of Tropical Storm Grace are not yet done with the South Western Peninsula of Haiti, which was crushed by the devastating earthquake. Revised assessments now reveal 60,000 homes have been destroyed, thousands more unsafe, two thousand or more people have died and hundreds more have been injured. In the midst of Mother Nature`s absolute worst, UN Chief Antonio Guterres has spoken across borders, frontiers and oceans assuring Haitians: "You`re NOT alone. We stand by your side during these trying times. The United Nations continues to assist those affected, with humanitarian aid, medical supplies, health care, clean water, shelter...and more." The UN has also donated eight million dollars of immediate emergency funding.

Clarissa Etienne, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization is highlighting the urgency for medical specialists coupled with medicines and rescue experts, stressing there could still yet be people alive, trapped and running out of time.

Setting aside mundane political and ideological differences, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, the Dominican Republic, the United States and even Venezuela, which itself is suffering acute shortages of daily staples, have sent everything they can. US search and rescue teams are working around the clock, battling exhaustion, trying their utmost...and then some, to save as many as they can. It`s providing a lifeline for people, who`ve literally reached the end of the line.

James Blears
Source: vaticannews.va