- Title: MEXICO: Mexico prepares to send aid to earthquake-devastated Haiti
- Date: 14th January 2010
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JANUARY 13, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HAITI'S EMBASSY HAITI'S FLAG RESIDENTS CARRYING DONATED AID TO BE TAKEN TO HAITI MORE OF AID RESCUE WORKER DANIEL HAVA, PART OF MEXICO'S "TOPO" (MOLE) RESCUE TEAM, TALKING TO OFFICIAL AT EMBASSY HAVA'S SHIRT WITH "TOPO" LOGO HAVA TALKING TO COLLEAGUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESCUE WORKER DANIEL HAVA, PART OF MEXICO'S "TOPO" (MOLE) RESCUE TEAM, SAYING: "We'll focus on three things, analysis and installation of the base, secondly rescue victims - we hope finding them alive, all of them - and thirdly to help the community in general." MORE OF RESIDENTS DELIVERING AID TO BE SENT TO HAITI EMBASSY WORKER TALKING TO MAN NOTICE AT HAITI'S EMBASSY ASKING FOR BANK DONATIONS
- Embargoed: 29th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVAH4KR4ZK74OJEEZFO8JIHJH99
- Story Text: Mexican officials talk about rescue operation set in motion to help victims of Haiti's devastating 7.0 earthquake. Residents deliver aid to Haiti's Embassy in the capital and its Ambassador calls for urgent emergency relief.
Haiti's Embassy in Mexico City began receiving aid from residents living in the huge metropolis on Wednesday (January 13) after Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Thousands were feared dead in a major earthquake that destroyed the presidential palace, cathedral, schools, hospitals and hillside shanties in Haiti, its leaders said on Wednesday, and the United States and other nations geared up for a big relief operation.
Rescue workers from Mexico's "Topo" (Mole) team was busy talking to officials at the embassy and prepared to send a 10-member team to Haiti in order to evaluate damages. More rescue members will follow soon afterwards.
The "Topo" team were hailed as heroes after saving dozens of people in 1985 when up to 12,000 people were killed and 40,000 were injured when an earthquake hit Mexico City and the adjoining region.
Daniel Hava, a "Topo" rescue worker said they would focus on three aspects within the operation.
"We'll focus on three things, analysis and installation of the base, secondly rescue victims - we hope finding them alive, all of them - and thirdly to help the community in general."
Mexico's Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Salvador Beltran del Rio, said Mexico would send a team to Haiti to asses damage and follow through with necessary aid needed in the country.
"I'm able to inform you that a group of experts and consultants will be travelling to Haiti including doctors specializing in injuries caused by the collapse of structures, pairs of rescue workers, experts who evaluate damages and the handling of emergencies to determine with precision, to support Haiti's government and (determine) what kind of help is needed to help them."
Haiti's ambassador to Mexico Robert Manuel, spoke about the catastrophic consequences of this earthquake.
"Great pain, sadness at this moment for Haiti, my country which has been battered for years, most recently by hurricanes and all type of difficulties. That earthquake with terrible consequences for my country, a catastrophe, a disaster in human terms, equipment, infrastructure and national production, everything that will happen afterwards."
And he called for urgent aid.
"Everything that will help. Rescue, medical help, water, supplies, other equipment to reestablish communications, the government will do this fast but we have a problem with energy. There is no light, no communications."
A five-story U.N. headquarters building was also brought down by Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude quake, the most powerful to hit Haiti in more than 200 years according to the U.S. Geological Survey. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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