notes: FROM THE WEBSITE 1/14/10: Joining forces to help animals As I followed news about Haiti for the last two days, I was struck by how many people from around the world have started coming together, offering to help in any way they can. And animal welfare groups have shown that it is equally possible to work together to help the animal victims of this disaster – who are equally distressed by the destruction all around them, and equally in need of emergency aid – with a similar show of solidarity amongst groups. Together, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will be working on the ground to help the animals in Haiti. We have come together to form the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) so that all animal welfare organizations involved in response efforts can work together and make sure we get aid to as many animals, and in as short a time, as possible. Our teams will be working out of a mobile clinic which has been donated to us by the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society. WSPA and IFAW have pledged funds to fully outfit this mobile clinic, and it will be shipped from Antigua to our member society, Sociedad Dominicana Para la Protección de Animales (SODOPRECA) in the Dominican Republic for them to drive across the border into Haiti. We are inviting other animal welfare groups to join ARCH and direct their support to the coalition. Once again, this proves a simple but powerful truth: when people join together, amazing things can happen. --------------------------------------------------- To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM ----------------------------------------------------- WSPA works to … reduce risk in disaster prone areas We work with governments, local animal welfare groups and communities in disaster-prone areas, both setting up national warning systems and showing people how to prepare for disasters, by: • creating adequate storage and protection for food and water supplies • identifying animals so they can easily be reunited with their owners • demonstrating how to evacuate animals safely • strengthening and securing animal shelters on safe ground • running vaccination programmes to protect animal health. WSPA provides … emergency relief for animals When disaster strikes, our expert disaster response team can be there within days. WSPA’s unique Member Society Network helps get local relief programmes up and running quickly. In the field, we provide emergency veterinary care through static and mobile clinics, feed hungry animals and reunite animals with their owners wherever possible. WSPA has been doing relief work in disaster-struck areas for more than four decades and works in concert with local partners and humanitarian agencies, making sure that the right type of relief is delivered to the right areas, to be of maximum help. WSPA seeks to contribute to … rehabilitation WSPA aims to get living conditions back to normal – or improve them – for all affected animals. Restoring veterinary care is crucial. We use the aftermath to put in place plans for the relief of future disaster situations in the area: risk reduction completes the cycle of animal protection. These projects can become models for preparation work elsewhere. -> FROM THE WEBSITE: Thank you for helping us to help Haitians Feb 4, 2010 Our disaster management team were able to act swiftly, responding to the Haitian government’s request for our help within hours of our receiving an official invitation. Coming together as ARCH In the first days following the earthquake in Haiti, WSPA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) came together to set up the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) so that animal welfare organisations wanting to help the animals of Haiti could work together and take joint action for maximum impact. ARCH now has 19 member organisations acting together in Haiti, and you can follow reports from our joint efforts by visiting WSPA’s Animals in Disasters blog. A team from ARCH has just completed an assessment of the animal welfare situation in Haiti, meeting with officials from various agencies including the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture, in order to develop an effective course of action for the coming weeks and months. The team found limited need for emergency animal relief work but there is considerable work ahead in the medium term and the long term. Taking care to the community The main animal welfare challenge ahead of Haitians in the medium term is vaccination drives to prevent the threat of diseases, especially zoonoses, spreading amongst this vulnerable community. ARCH is equipped to meet these needs through an international team from various ARCH member organisations, who will travel to parts of Haiti outside the capital and administer veterinary treatment, vaccination and feed for both companion animals and livestock. The ARCH staff will operate on a weekly rotation in order to offer continued technical support to this team. Long road to recovery Given the complete collapse of infrastructure in Haiti, the main challenge ahead is the reconstruction of veterinary infrastructure. ARCH is planning several options, including: -Massive vaccination for bovine, ovine, horse/donkey, caprine and other hoofed animals. -Setting up epidemiology surveillance networks on Newcastle and Gumboro diseases. -Public awareness campaigns to encourage people to bring their animals to the facilities that ARCH is helping to put in place. -Refresh and train vets/public health (human) workers. Setting up solar powered clinics and/or mobile clinics as well as purchasing equipment such as thermoses, ice coolers, refrigerators etc (to ensure that medications needing a ‘cold chain’ will be stored and transported at the right temperature) to support vaccination and treatment operations. Purchasing consumables required – medicines, vaccines, etc – and distributing these to departmental/communal/local structures. Working with the Haitians © WSPA - IFAWAs with any recovery operation that WSPA undertakes after a disaster, we are working in close consultation with the government and international agencies. At present we are in the process of working out a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Haiti, in order to plan the most effective way to rebuild and reinforce the country’s veterinary infrastructure. Although we are working with a proposal that could cost in excess of $1.2M, working together with our partners in ARCH means this financial challenge will be shared amongst us. The money you contribute to WSPA’s Animals in Disasters fund will be used to finance both the immediate and the long term recovery work for Haiti and, if we raise more money than is required for the Haiti programme, we will invest donations in WSPA’s fund to prepare for any future disasters in other parts of the world. Once again, thank you for supporting WSPA’s work and enabling us to respond to crises with the urgency required. ---------------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE 1/14/10: Joining forces to help animals As I followed news about Haiti for the last two days, I was struck by how many people from around the world have started coming together, offering to help in any way they can. And animal welfare groups have shown that it is equally possible to work together to help the animal victims of this disaster – who are equally distressed by the destruction all around them, and equally in need of emergency aid – with a similar show of solidarity amongst groups. Together, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will be working on the ground to help the animals in Haiti. We have come together to form the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) so that all animal welfare organizations involved in response efforts can work together and make sure we get aid to as many animals, and in as short a time, as possible. Our teams will be working out of a mobile clinic which has been donated to us by the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society. WSPA and IFAW have pledged funds to fully outfit this mobile clinic, and it will be shipped from Antigua to our member society, Sociedad Dominicana Para la Protección de Animales (SODOPRECA) in the Dominican Republic for them to drive across the border into Haiti. We are inviting other animal welfare groups to join ARCH and direct their support to the coalition. Once again, this proves a simple but powerful truth: when people join together, amazing things can happen. --------------------------------------------------- To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM ----------------------------------------------------- WSPA works to … reduce risk in disaster prone areas We work with governments, local animal welfare groups and communities in disaster-prone areas, both setting up national warning systems and showing people how to prepare for disasters, by: • creating adequate storage and protection for food and water supplies • identifying animals so they can easily be reunited with their owners • demonstrating how to evacuate animals safely • strengthening and securing animal shelters on safe ground • running vaccination programmes to protect animal health. WSPA provides … emergency relief for animals When disaster strikes, our expert disaster response team can be there within days. WSPA’s unique Member Society Network helps get local relief programmes up and running quickly. In the field, we provide emergency veterinary care through static and mobile clinics, feed hungry animals and reunite animals with their owners wherever possible. WSPA has been doing relief work in disaster-struck areas for more than four decades and works in concert with local partners and humanitarian agencies, making sure that the right type of relief is delivered to the right areas, to be of maximum help. WSPA seeks to contribute to … rehabilitation WSPA aims to get living conditions back to normal – or improve them – for all affected animals. Restoring veterinary care is crucial. We use the aftermath to put in place plans for the relief of future disaster situations in the area: risk reduction completes the cycle of animal protection. These projects can become models for preparation work elsewhere.

status: Standby -> Open

website: -> http://www.wspa-international.org/
mission: Our mission: to build a global animal welfare movement. With consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe, WSPA is the world‘s largest alliance of animal welfare societies. We are proud to coordinate this growing network, with more than 900 member organisations in over 150 countries. WSPA brings together people and organisations throughout the world to challenge global animal welfare issues. WSPA has 13 offices and hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide. -> Our mission: to build a global animal welfare movement. With consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe, WSPA is the world‘s largest alliance of animal welfare societies. We are proud to coordinate this growing network, with more than 900 member organisations in over 150 countries. WSPA brings together people and organisations throughout the world to challenge global animal welfare issues. WSPA has 13 offices and hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide.

notes: To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM ----------------------------------------------------- WSPA works to … reduce risk in disaster prone areas We work with governments, local animal welfare groups and communities in disaster-prone areas, both setting up national warning systems and showing people how to prepare for disasters, by: • creating adequate storage and protection for food and water supplies • identifying animals so they can easily be reunited with their owners • demonstrating how to evacuate animals safely • strengthening and securing animal shelters on safe ground • running vaccination programmes to protect animal health. WSPA provides … emergency relief for animals When disaster strikes, our expert disaster response team can be there within days. WSPA’s unique Member Society Network helps get local relief programmes up and running quickly. In the field, we provide emergency veterinary care through static and mobile clinics, feed hungry animals and reunite animals with their owners wherever possible. WSPA has been doing relief work in disaster-struck areas for more than four decades and works in concert with local partners and humanitarian agencies, making sure that the right type of relief is delivered to the right areas, to be of maximum help. WSPA seeks to contribute to … rehabilitation WSPA aims to get living conditions back to normal – or improve them – for all affected animals. Restoring veterinary care is crucial. We use the aftermath to put in place plans for the relief of future disaster situations in the area: risk reduction completes the cycle of animal protection. These projects can become models for preparation work elsewhere. -> FROM THE WEBSITE 1/14/10: Joining forces to help animals As I followed news about Haiti for the last two days, I was struck by how many people from around the world have started coming together, offering to help in any way they can. And animal welfare groups have shown that it is equally possible to work together to help the animal victims of this disaster – who are equally distressed by the destruction all around them, and equally in need of emergency aid – with a similar show of solidarity amongst groups. Together, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will be working on the ground to help the animals in Haiti. We have come together to form the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) so that all animal welfare organizations involved in response efforts can work together and make sure we get aid to as many animals, and in as short a time, as possible. Our teams will be working out of a mobile clinic which has been donated to us by the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society. WSPA and IFAW have pledged funds to fully outfit this mobile clinic, and it will be shipped from Antigua to our member society, Sociedad Dominicana Para la Protección de Animales (SODOPRECA) in the Dominican Republic for them to drive across the border into Haiti. We are inviting other animal welfare groups to join ARCH and direct their support to the coalition. Once again, this proves a simple but powerful truth: when people join together, amazing things can happen. --------------------------------------------------- To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM ----------------------------------------------------- WSPA works to … reduce risk in disaster prone areas We work with governments, local animal welfare groups and communities in disaster-prone areas, both setting up national warning systems and showing people how to prepare for disasters, by: • creating adequate storage and protection for food and water supplies • identifying animals so they can easily be reunited with their owners • demonstrating how to evacuate animals safely • strengthening and securing animal shelters on safe ground • running vaccination programmes to protect animal health. WSPA provides … emergency relief for animals When disaster strikes, our expert disaster response team can be there within days. WSPA’s unique Member Society Network helps get local relief programmes up and running quickly. In the field, we provide emergency veterinary care through static and mobile clinics, feed hungry animals and reunite animals with their owners wherever possible. WSPA has been doing relief work in disaster-struck areas for more than four decades and works in concert with local partners and humanitarian agencies, making sure that the right type of relief is delivered to the right areas, to be of maximum help. WSPA seeks to contribute to … rehabilitation WSPA aims to get living conditions back to normal – or improve them – for all affected animals. Restoring veterinary care is crucial. We use the aftermath to put in place plans for the relief of future disaster situations in the area: risk reduction completes the cycle of animal protection. These projects can become models for preparation work elsewhere.
region: Carribean -> Haiti, Carribean
mission: Our mission: to build a global animal welfare movement. With consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe, WSPA is the world‘s largest alliance of animal welfare societies. We are proud to coordinate this growing network, with more than 900 member organisations in over 150 countries. WSPA brings together people and organisations throughout the world to challenge global animal welfare issues. WSPA has 13 offices and hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide. -> Our mission: to build a global animal welfare movement. With consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe, WSPA is the world‘s largest alliance of animal welfare societies. We are proud to coordinate this growing network, with more than 900 member organisations in over 150 countries. WSPA brings together people and organisations throughout the world to challenge global animal welfare issues. WSPA has 13 offices and hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide.

notes: To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM -> To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM ----------------------------------------------------- WSPA works to … reduce risk in disaster prone areas We work with governments, local animal welfare groups and communities in disaster-prone areas, both setting up national warning systems and showing people how to prepare for disasters, by: • creating adequate storage and protection for food and water supplies • identifying animals so they can easily be reunited with their owners • demonstrating how to evacuate animals safely • strengthening and securing animal shelters on safe ground • running vaccination programmes to protect animal health. WSPA provides … emergency relief for animals When disaster strikes, our expert disaster response team can be there within days. WSPA’s unique Member Society Network helps get local relief programmes up and running quickly. In the field, we provide emergency veterinary care through static and mobile clinics, feed hungry animals and reunite animals with their owners wherever possible. WSPA has been doing relief work in disaster-struck areas for more than four decades and works in concert with local partners and humanitarian agencies, making sure that the right type of relief is delivered to the right areas, to be of maximum help. WSPA seeks to contribute to … rehabilitation WSPA aims to get living conditions back to normal – or improve them – for all affected animals. Restoring veterinary care is crucial. We use the aftermath to put in place plans for the relief of future disaster situations in the area: risk reduction completes the cycle of animal protection. These projects can become models for preparation work elsewhere.
eligibility: -> Animals Impacted by the 2010 Haiti Earthquake
mission: -> Our mission: to build a global animal welfare movement. With consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe, WSPA is the world‘s largest alliance of animal welfare societies. We are proud to coordinate this growing network, with more than 900 member organisations in over 150 countries. WSPA brings together people and organisations throughout the world to challenge global animal welfare issues. WSPA has 13 offices and hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide.

areas_served: -> Haiti
eligibility: ->

notes: To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM -> To donate online go to: https://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2373_give_to_our_disaster_relief_fund.cfm WSPA Blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com/wspa/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-preparing-to-respond.html Earthquake in Haiti: Preparing to respond My team and I have been closely monitoring the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake hit the capital, Port-au-Prince, last night. With most communications infrastructure down, it meant we had a long night waiting for information that beyond sketchy news reports. Since this morning, we have been in talks with the United Nations (under serious stress themselves since their office in Port-au-Prince has collapsed, with 15 staff members dead and 20 still missing) and the local Red Cross Chapters to gain a further understanding of the impact on animals caught up in the situation. Our Disaster Liaison Officer from Panama, Jorge Alcidez Gonzalez who also works as the Head of the K9 unit of Civil Defence, is now travelling out of Panama with a team of specially trained veterinary staff to assess the destruction and welfare needs of the animals. Jorge and his brave team will be treating animals as soon as they are on the ground. They have told me that they will carry veterinary supplies to treat any injured animals that they come across. I have also arranged for him to feedback the extent of the damage and where we can be of most help, as quickly as possible. Do look out for more updates from us, as we relay on the information we get from Jorge and the rest of the team. Considering the troubled security situation in Haiti at the best of times, my primary concern at the moment is Jorge’s safety; we will be paying particular attention to this in the next couple of days while planning our disaster relief operation in greater detail. Posted by Gerardo Huertas - Disaster Operations Director on 01/13/2010 at 06:22 PM
status: Open -> Standby
organization: -> Animal Disaster Response