Dom Rep holidaymakers urged to aid Haiti
Saturday, 18 Jan, 2010
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Package holidaymakers to the Dominican Republic are being asked to donate unused items at the end of their breaks to help earthquake survivors in neighbouring Haiti.
The call has gone out from TUI UK operators Thomson and First Choice.
Through regular fundraising events in resort, more than $10,000 has been sourced, which will go to help local initiatives such as convoys of essential, basic supplies over to people in Haiti.
A number of staff in the hotels are from Haiti or have family there, so in the first instance money will go towards helping their families and communities in this time of need, the companies said.
Communications director Christian Cull said: “Thomson and First Choice are committed to helping those affected by the disaster in anyway possible and we will continue to look for ways that we can offer support.
“Staff and customers in neighbouring Dominican Republic are particularly well placed to help and customers are being encouraged to donate toiletries and clothing, at the end of their holiday to convoys going over to Haiti, where they will be gratefully received.”
The sister operators’ in-house airline Thomson Airways has been liaising with the Department for International Development to offer free cargo space for aid supplies to Haiti via flights to the Dominican Republic.
Additionally, 40 free seats on flights over the next few days have been offered to the Disasters’ Emergency Committee to give to aid workers to reach the disaster zone as quickly as possible.
The operators’ staff and holidaymakers in the Dominican Republic are supporting a number of different aid initiatives.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic is flying aid along with key medical personnel, aid agency workers and rescue teams to the region.
The aid and personnel is being flown on a number of flights from the UK to Miami, Orlando and Jamaica.
From there aid agencies will arrange for essential supplies to be transferred to Haiti.
The airline has already committed to flying a minimum of 55 tonnes of cargo.
Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson said: “Everyone who has seen the sheer destruction in Haiti over the last few days will have been moved to help in any way they can.
“Virgin Atlantic and our foundation Virgin Unite, have been liaising with organisations working on the relief effort with the Disasters Emergency Committee to help deliver much-needed aid to the region.
“We will fly in as much aid as possible so that the agencies on the ground can respond to the needs of everyone in Haiti whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy.”
Amongst the aid being flown to the region is hundreds of ShelterBoxes which will help to meet the pressing need of providing shelter for thousands on the island.
Each ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for up to 10 people, a stove, blankets and other items essential for survival.
The boxes will be distributed through international volunteer ShelterBox Response Team members who work with local aid agencies on the ground to deliver emergency shelter to those in greatest need.
ShelterBox Founder Tom Henderson said: “Our team around the world are doing all they can to ensure aid reaches the people of Haiti as soon as possible. With each day the need grows and we’re doing everything to get help to the thousands of families affected by this tragedy.
“The response from our volunteers and supporters has once again been sensational. We can’t do this without the public’s compassion and generosity. Virgin Atlantic has really pulled out all the stops for us and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.”
The carrier is also working with a number of other charities, including Save the Children and Oxfam, to assist them in their efforts to get crucial aid supplies and personnel to the region.
Save the Children senior emergencies advisor Matthew Wingate said: “The people of Haiti have experienced a huge crisis. Around three million affected people urgently need relief, otherwise they will face even greater suffering through lack of shelter, food shortages, and disease outbreak in the coming weeks.
“Save the Children knows that children are the worst affected – and we’re especially worried about those young children who are separated from their families with no one to care forthem."
*Donate to the rescue efforts at http://www.dec.org.uk/.
Phil Davies
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