Thursday, January 14, 2010

MSF and Haiti Update

Just got this update from Doctors Without Borders in my inbox and thought I would share:

"Dear Friend,

In light of the severity of the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, and the outpouring of concern from supporters we've heard in the days since, I'll be sending you regular updates on the work we are doing in Haiti.

As you read this, MSF medical teams in Port-au-Prince are treating thousands of people who were injured in the quake. Most have fractures, head injuries and other major trauma injuries. We have set up four tented facilities beside the now damaged hospitals we used to work in. The need for wound treatment and major surgery is immense.

In the next 24 hours an MSF field hospital will arrive by air, equipped with two operating theatres, along with trauma surgeons and anesthetists. Our teams on the ground in the capital are also trying to identify intact buildings that could be used to do surgery.

Food, water and shelter materials are all in short supply, but medical stocks are not yet exhausted. Forty tonnes of material will arrive on the ground tonight, conditions permitting, and an additional 80 staff will join the 800 MSF staff already working in Haiti. Teams will be distributing medical disaster kits, blankets, plastic sheeting, hygiene and cooking sets, tents and jerrycans.

If you've already donated to the relief effort, thank you. You can continue to help by forwarding this message or sharing it with your networks on Facebook and Twitter.

If you haven't had a chance to support these relief efforts and would like to do so, please click here to make a donation now. Thank you for your solidarity at this most difficult time.

Marilyn McHarg
General Director, MSF Canada

PS: Due to the high level of interest in our crisis response, MSF Canada has been experiencing slower performance on our website. We are working to resolve this. Thank you for your patience."

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