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| Agencies help quake rescue effort | Agencies help quake rescue effort |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Emergency crews, charities and the UK government are co-ordinating efforts to help with the rescue operation in Haiti after it was hit by an earthquake. | Emergency crews, charities and the UK government are co-ordinating efforts to help with the rescue operation in Haiti after it was hit by an earthquake. |
| The 7.0-magnitude quake that hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is feared to have killed thousands of people across the Caribbean country. | The 7.0-magnitude quake that hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is feared to have killed thousands of people across the Caribbean country. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by the disaster and pledged whatever support was needed. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by the disaster and pledged whatever support was needed. |
| A government spokesman said no British casualties had been reported so far. | A government spokesman said no British casualties had been reported so far. |
| A 61-strong team of firefighters from across the UK has volunteered to fly out to the quake zone. | A 61-strong team of firefighters from across the UK has volunteered to fly out to the quake zone. |
| 'Know the devastation' | 'Know the devastation' |
| The team will be taking specialist equipment and two search dogs. | The team will be taking specialist equipment and two search dogs. |
| But aid from the UK has been delayed after the closure of Gatwick Airport because of the heavy snow and treacherous weather. | But aid from the UK has been delayed after the closure of Gatwick Airport because of the heavy snow and treacherous weather. |
| Lincolnshire's chief fire officer, Mike Thomas, will act as team leader for the whole of the UK response. | Lincolnshire's chief fire officer, Mike Thomas, will act as team leader for the whole of the UK response. |
| He said many of the team members had helped out in similar situations before and knew what to expect in the rescue operation. | He said many of the team members had helped out in similar situations before and knew what to expect in the rescue operation. |
| Douglas Alexander promises UK aid to Haiti | Douglas Alexander promises UK aid to Haiti |
| "We know the devastation, risks and shock this can have on a community and we'll be there to help as best we can," he said. | "We know the devastation, risks and shock this can have on a community and we'll be there to help as best we can," he said. |
| Greater Manchester firefighter Peter Stevenson, who will work as operation commander when the volunteers arrive in Haiti, said they would work in two teams to search for survivors. | Greater Manchester firefighter Peter Stevenson, who will work as operation commander when the volunteers arrive in Haiti, said they would work in two teams to search for survivors. |
| "One rescue can take between six and 10 hours, depending on the situation and what the building is made from," Mr Stevenson said. | "One rescue can take between six and 10 hours, depending on the situation and what the building is made from," Mr Stevenson said. |
| "We go totally self-reliant, with several tonnes of equipment so we can work 24 hours a day on at least two separate sites." | "We go totally self-reliant, with several tonnes of equipment so we can work 24 hours a day on at least two separate sites." |
| The teams will be using heavy breaking equipment, specialist cameras and acoustic listening devices. | The teams will be using heavy breaking equipment, specialist cameras and acoustic listening devices. |
| 'Window of opportunity' | 'Window of opportunity' |
| The group includes volunteers from fire and rescue services in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Sussex, Kent, the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, and mid and west Wales. | The group includes volunteers from fire and rescue services in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Sussex, Kent, the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, and mid and west Wales. |
| Cornwall-based international relief charity Shelterbox, which provides survival and shelter equipment in disaster zones, has also mobilised a response team from the UK and the US to assess the aid requirements of victims left homeless by the earthquake. | Cornwall-based international relief charity Shelterbox, which provides survival and shelter equipment in disaster zones, has also mobilised a response team from the UK and the US to assess the aid requirements of victims left homeless by the earthquake. |
| The firefighters do not know how long they will have to stay in Haiti but a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they would only have a "small window of opportunity" to try to reach people buried beneath the rubble. | The firefighters do not know how long they will have to stay in Haiti but a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they would only have a "small window of opportunity" to try to reach people buried beneath the rubble. |
| The earthquake caused buildings to topple, trapping people | The earthquake caused buildings to topple, trapping people |
| Mr Brown expressed his sympathy for the victims of the earthquake. | Mr Brown expressed his sympathy for the victims of the earthquake. |
| He said: "I am deeply saddened and worried about the reported scale of the earthquake in Haiti. | He said: "I am deeply saddened and worried about the reported scale of the earthquake in Haiti. |
| "I am sending a message of sympathy and support to President Preval and we are sending a team from the Department for International Development to assess the humanitarian needs. | "I am sending a message of sympathy and support to President Preval and we are sending a team from the Department for International Development to assess the humanitarian needs. |
| "We stand ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance is required." | "We stand ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance is required." |
| Much of Haiti's nine million population is impoverished and the disaster comes after years of political instability. | Much of Haiti's nine million population is impoverished and the disaster comes after years of political instability. |
| The country has suffered a number of recent disasters, including hurricanes and storms in 2008. | The country has suffered a number of recent disasters, including hurricanes and storms in 2008. |
| The Department for International Development (DFID) is helping to co-ordinate UK aid being sent to Haiti. | The Department for International Development (DFID) is helping to co-ordinate UK aid being sent to Haiti. |
| Haiti has moved to the centre of the world's thoughts, and the world's compassion Gordon Brown href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_8448000/8448216.stm?t=65s">The PM pledged support in the Commons: From BBC Democracy Live | |
| International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander warned Haiti would not only need help in rescuing individuals, but also in rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring vital public services. | International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander warned Haiti would not only need help in rescuing individuals, but also in rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring vital public services. |
| He told the BBC News Channel: "While it is vital and urgent that we get people on to the ground in terms of rescuing people from the rubble, this is going to be a longer-term endeavour. | He told the BBC News Channel: "While it is vital and urgent that we get people on to the ground in terms of rescuing people from the rubble, this is going to be a longer-term endeavour. |
| "That is why the whole international community needs to work together to address the needs that are uncovered as a result of this terrible tragedy." | "That is why the whole international community needs to work together to address the needs that are uncovered as a result of this terrible tragedy." |
| Save the Children has released £50,000 and the British Red Cross released £200,000 from its funds to help in the emergency. | Save the Children has released £50,000 and the British Red Cross released £200,000 from its funds to help in the emergency. |
| Christian Aid also launched a £1m emergency appeal for victims. | Christian Aid also launched a £1m emergency appeal for victims. |
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