The National Emergency Management Agency has delivered relief items approved by the federal government for victims of the earthquake disaster that devastated Haiti on 12th January 2010.Director General of NEMA retired Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Audu-Bida delivered the items on behalf of the federal government to the Haitian authorities for the victims in Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital. He said the items were approved by President Goodluck Jonathan in addition to the earlier financial donation made to cushion the impact of the disaster.
He further said the gesture was in the spirit of solidarity to support efforts of the Haitian government and other international assistance to stabilise conditions of the victims and help in overall recovery from the disaster. He conveyed the sympathy of the government and people of Nigeria to the victims. The DG NEMA called for more support from the international community towards the victims and urged the Haitian authorities to channel the assistance to the deserving beneficiaries.
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Responding, Haitian Minister of Interior who was represented by Mr Pinchinat Pierre-Louis thanked the federal government for the gesture and assured that the items would be distributed to the intended beneficiaries accordingly. He noted the prominent position of Nigeria in the comity of nations and said the support received was a clear proof of its concerns for the others. He conveyed the sympathy of the Haitian government to the Nigerian government over the death of the Late President Umaru Musa YarÁdua.
NEMA’s director of relief and rehabilitation Dr Olusegun Edward Ojo who accompanied the DG among others conducted the Haitian officials on inspection of the items and later officially handed over the items. These included medicament, clothing and toiletries.
On 12th January 2010, a powerful earthquake ripped through the country which led to the collapse of many houses trapping countless victims and destroyed property. The disaster which lasted for just about 10 seconds resulted in large volume of victims with deaths and displacement across the country. Most of the displaced population are now leaving in camps and being supported by assistance from the international community.
