Dear Colleagues,

               We find ourselves in a deep sorrow because of the earthquake in Haiti. These sad events put the whole world in mourning.

              In this time of great pain, the Private Sector of the Americas, joins the call for help issued by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), in the statement below.

http://www.panamericanrelief.org/ht/d/

                We send our sincere condolences to all the Haitian people for the victims and their families.

                  We join, with all nations, peoples and individuals to offer our support and our cooperation in whatever becomes necessary, putting ourselves at your complete disposal.

                  We appreciate your attention and call for your collaboration.

Sincerely,
 

Private Sector of the Americas. 

 Haiti Earthquake Appeal Issued by PADF

PanAmericanRelief.org is a secure method to help
 

 
            Washington, D.C., January 12, 2010 – After the devastating 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti, the non-profit Pan American Development Foundation is encouraging people to donate through its special website www.PanAmericanRelief.org

            “This is a critical time for Haiti and our neighbors need our help,” says Amy Coughenour, Deputy Executive Director of PADF. “PADF will be working with civil protection authorities, the private sector and community organizations to provide immediate and long-term assistance.”

            PADF – the natural disaster relief arm of the Organization of American States (OAS) – set up the safe and secure www.PanAmericanRelief.org so individuals may find out information and make donations.

            At the same time, the non-profit organization is also working with major corporations to coordinate their response. Most recently, PADF’s corporate partners like DIAGEO, Chevron, Royal Caribbean International Ltd., Citi and Federal Express provided relief to El Salvador after Hurricane Ike and in Guatemala to help after the worst drought in three decades.

PADF has more than 150 people throughout Haiti working on a number of projects, including community driven development, disaster mitigation and protecting human rights. 
 

About PADF

PADF is an independent, non-profit organization that creates public-private partnerships to assist the least advantaged people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Through these partnerships and as a unique affiliate of the Organization of American States, PADF creates economic opportunities, strengthens communities and prepares for and responds to natural disasters.

Having worked in every country in the region, PADF engages community-based groups, governments and the private sector in the process of implementing appropriate solutions for sustainable development.

In the past year, more than 5 million people in 18 countries benefited from PADF and its programs. www.padf.org

Latest news from Haiti

• It is estimated that 3 million people are affected by the 7.0 earthquake.
• Aftershocks continued to rock the country after the major quake.
• The AP reports that tens of thousands of Haitians may have lost their homes.
• A major hospital may have been destroyed, the Miami Herald reports.
• Efforts are focusing on search and rescue, PADF reports.
• This is the worst earthquake in Haiti in more than 200 years.
• Natural disaster experts from the U.S. Agency for International Development are scheduled to arrive in Port-au-Prince at 1:30 p.m. to assess the damage. 

Necesitamos Ayuda Urgente para Haití

Después del terremoto de magnitud 7.0 que devastó Haití, estamos pidiendo a las personas que donen a la Fundación Panamericana para el Desarrollo. (Por favor ve el botón de donaciones en la página). Las donaciones serán usadas para comprar y transportar el tipo de apoyó que los Haitianos necesitan.

PADF, el brazo de respuesta ante desastres de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, tiene más de 150 personas trabajando en Haití en desarrollo económico, mitigación de desastres y protección de derechos humanos. PADF es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) basada en Washington, D.C.

Las últimas noticias de Haiti

- Un estimado de 3 millones de personas fueron afectadas por el terremoto de 7.0.
- AP reporta que es probable que decenas de miles de Haitianos hayan perdido sus casas.
- Miami Herald reporta que uno de los hospitales principales colapsó.
- Los esfuerzos se están enfocando en la búsqueda y rescate de sobrevivientes reporta PADF.
- Este es el peor terremoto sufrido por Haití en más de 200 años.
- Expertos de desastres naturales de la Agencia de Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional llegarán a Puerto Príncipe a la 1:30 pm para evaluar los daños.