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UK team seek survivors in Haiti UK Haitians anxiously await news
(9 minutes later)
British rescue workers have begun trying to find survivors among the devastation in earthquake-hit Haiti. Haitians living in the UK are desperately awaiting news of loved ones in the earthquake-hit country.
The team, equipped with heavy lifting gear, said it was planning to send in dogs to search for anyone trapped. The anxiety of the 1,000-strong UK Haitian community is being prolonged by crippled communications networks.
The Foreign Office is checking on Britons in the country and will start repatriations. Officials say 30 have been found and all are safe and well. Up to 50,000 people on the Caribbean island are feared dead after Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
But concern is growing for a missing British woman, Ann Barnes, a PA to the UN police commissioner in Haiti. UK rescue workers are trying to find survivors. Thirty Britons were found safe and well, but concern is growing for one missing British woman.
Among those anxiously waiting for news is Shelane Chapman from Downham in Kent. She has no idea what has happened to her family in Carrefour-Sevilles.
We keep redialling my mother's mobile number but it just won't work. If the house has gone, where could she be? Where could they all be? Shelane Chapman
She heard rumours her mother's house collapsed in the earthquake, killing her six-year-old cousin, but has been unable to verify the news.
Mrs Chapman's mother, Gisele Augustine-Senatuy, 62, a pregnant sister and 11 other relatives, are missing.
Mrs Chapman, who herself is seven months pregnant, said: "We're sick with worry because we can't get through at all. We keep redialling my mother's mobile number but it just won't work. If the house has gone, where could she be? Where could they all be?
"My seven-year-old daughter Genevive is scared about what has happened to her gran. She said she wished she was a magician so she could make the bad thing that happened to Haiti go away."
Judith Craig of United Haitians in the UK, says the charity has seen its membership jump since the earthquake hit.
Pulling together
She attributes the increase to people wanting to find out more and seek solidarity with others.
She said Haitians in the UK were pulling together as "people's lives are dependent on this".
British rescue workers have begun trying to find survivors among the devastation.
The team, equipped with heavy-lifting gear, said it was planning to send in dogs to search for anyone trapped.
Lucy Sheppard, BBC News at a relief depot in Bicester, Oxfordshire Disposable latrines and buckets - not the most glamorous of supplies, but essential items for saving lives in the aftermath of the earthquake that has devastated Haiti. Hygiene is the key challenge facing Oxfam's aid workers, and its Bicester warehouse is piled high with equipment to establish sanitation and a clean water supply. Boxes of temporary water tanks tower over pallets of buckets; as one team member told me, there is no point in providing clean water if people cannot take it away. There are also water testing kits so, if any existing supplies remain accessible in Haiti, aid workers can establish whether it is safe for people to drink. Much of the equipment is boxed up and ready to go - the key question now is whether Oxfam can find transport to get its supplies into the devastated country.
The Foreign Office is checking on Britons in the country and will start repatriations, but concern is growing for a missing British woman, Ann Barnes, a PA to the UN police commissioner in Haiti.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports that (Ms Barnes) is missing and we are aware that the building she was working in collapsed. The UN has confirmed a number of deaths but has not given confirmation of her death."A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports that (Ms Barnes) is missing and we are aware that the building she was working in collapsed. The UN has confirmed a number of deaths but has not given confirmation of her death."
They are ready to go if we can tell them that we've got £5m in the bank account Brendan GormleyDisasters Emergency Committee DEC radio appeal
Up to 50,000 people on the Caribbean island are feared dead after Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude quake.
The quake, Haiti's worst in two centuries, has flattened whole areas in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.The quake, Haiti's worst in two centuries, has flattened whole areas in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.
In response the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched an appeal in the UK, with a TV advert due to be aired later.In response the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched an appeal in the UK, with a TV advert due to be aired later.
Asked what was needed to help efforts in Haiti, Brendan Gormley, director of the DEC, told the BBC: "It's money. It's as simple as that.Asked what was needed to help efforts in Haiti, Brendan Gormley, director of the DEC, told the BBC: "It's money. It's as simple as that.
"What your reports perhaps haven't mentioned is that most of the charities have been in Haiti for years because it is such a poor country. They have literally hundreds of staff."What your reports perhaps haven't mentioned is that most of the charities have been in Haiti for years because it is such a poor country. They have literally hundreds of staff.
"They are ready to go if we can tell them that we've got £5m in the bank account."They are ready to go if we can tell them that we've got £5m in the bank account.
Lucy Sheppard, BBC News at a relief depot in Bicester, Oxfordshire Disposable latrines and buckets. - not the most glamorous of supplies, but essential items for saving lives in the aftermath of the earthquake that has devastated Haiti. Hygiene is the key challenge facing Oxfam's aid workers, and its Bicester warehouse is piled high with equipment to establish sanitation and a clean water supply. Boxes of temporary water tanks tower over pallets of buckets; as one team member told me, there is no point in providing clean water if people cannot take it away. There are also water testing kits so, if any existing supplies remain accessible in Haiti, aid workers can establish whether it is safe for people to drink. Much of the equipment is boxed up and ready to go - the key question now is whether Oxfam can find transport to get its supplies into the devastated country.
"Of course the international community with the American military need to ramp up their efforts, but the private voluntary sector can do its bit, and this is why we're launching the appeal.""Of course the international community with the American military need to ramp up their efforts, but the private voluntary sector can do its bit, and this is why we're launching the appeal."
The UK ambassador to the Dominican Republic and other consular staff have gone to neighbouring Haiti.The UK ambassador to the Dominican Republic and other consular staff have gone to neighbouring Haiti.
A spokesman said they were making arrangements to repatriate the UK nationals they have managed to locate so far. DEC APPEAL The Disasters Emergency Committee is co-ordinating an appeal to help the people of HaitiThere are 13 charities involved including the British Red Cross, Islamic Relief and World VisionDonate via the class="" href="http://www.dec.org.uk">DEC website or by telephoning 0370 60 60 900 class="" href="/2/hi/in_depth/8460620.stm">DEC radio appeal
A British search and rescue team - made up of 71 people, mostly from the fire services, and two search dogs - flew to the region on Thursday, however not all had arrived in Haiti. A British search and rescue team - made up of 71 people, mostly from the fire services, and two search dogs - flew to the region on Thursday; however not all had arrived in Haiti.
Peter Stevenson, who is a member of the team, told the BBC most of the team had arrived: "I think we've been victims of our own success, we were actually in the Dominican Republic within 24 hours, the problem being that the airport was shut in Port-au-Prince because they didn't have electricity." Peter Stevenson, who is a member of the team, told the BBC most of the workers had arrived: "I think we've been victims of our own success, we were actually in the Dominican Republic within 24 hours, the problem being that the airport was shut in Port-au-Prince because they didn't have electricity.
"We've got 40 of our people up in Port-au-Prince at the moment and their task will be search and rescue."We've got 40 of our people up in Port-au-Prince at the moment and their task will be search and rescue.
"Although there is a lot of serious damage to the buildings we're hopeful there are voids created in the damaged structures which will enable us to find live casualties.""Although there is a lot of serious damage to the buildings we're hopeful there are voids created in the damaged structures which will enable us to find live casualties."
The Buckinghamshire-based charity Map Action says its staff have been turned back twice from Haiti.
Four members of staff are hoping to be able to help produce an accurate picture of the roads and infrastructure for aid agencies.
On Thursday Gordon Brown said the earthquake was a "tragedy beyond imagination" and urged the public to donate money to help.On Thursday Gordon Brown said the earthquake was a "tragedy beyond imagination" and urged the public to donate money to help.
DEC APPEAL The Disasters Emergency Committee is co-ordinating an appeal to help the people of HaitiThere are 13 charities involved including the British Red Cross, Islamic Relief and World VisionDonate via the DEC website or by telephoning 0370 60 60 900
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said a government donation of £6.2m would help provide homeless Haitians with food, water, sanitation, shelter and medicine.International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said a government donation of £6.2m would help provide homeless Haitians with food, water, sanitation, shelter and medicine.
The UK contribution will be divided between a number of international agencies and appeals. Meanwhile, the Queen has donated an undisclosed amount to the DEC.
There are fewer than a thousand Haitian nationals living in the UK, however those with relatives unaccounted for in Haiti were anxiously waiting for news. class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8459450.stm">DEC launches Haiti quake appeal class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8458516.stm">Living sleep among dead class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8456913.stm">Haiti Earthquake: Your stories class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8458291.stm">In pictures: Haiti rubble
Kathy Johnson, from Reading said: "We are desperately worried because my uncle and six of his children are missing in Port-au-Prince.
"The area is devastated, the church and graveyard near his house are destroyed and I am stuck here thousands of miles away."
Meanwhile, the Queen has donated an undisclosed amount to the DEC, an umbrella organisation which co-ordinates responses to major disasters overseas.
In addition to the rescue team, British aid workers are already in Haiti and more are being flown out.In addition to the rescue team, British aid workers are already in Haiti and more are being flown out.
The Red Cross has said three million people - up to a third of the population - might need emergency aid.The Red Cross has said three million people - up to a third of the population - might need emergency aid.
But chaos on the ground and infrastructure damage have been holding up aid efforts.But chaos on the ground and infrastructure damage have been holding up aid efforts.
Aid has been arriving from around the world, but there is little sign of help beyond the airport, correspondents say.Aid has been arriving from around the world, but there is little sign of help beyond the airport, correspondents say.
Many Haitians are spending a third night without shelter or in makeshift camps in Port-au-Prince. Many Haitians spent a third night without shelter or in makeshift camps in Port-au-Prince.
DEC launches Haiti quake appeal Living sleep among dead Haiti Earthquake: Your stories In pictures: Haiti rubble
Oxfam said its stocks of water, sanitation and shelter were all destroyed in the earthquake, along with the charity's office.Oxfam said its stocks of water, sanitation and shelter were all destroyed in the earthquake, along with the charity's office.
Save the Children's Ian Rodgers, who is in Port-au-Prince, said their office had not been damaged and most of their staff had been located.
Aid agencies were struggling to get relief into the country, he said, and people's shock had turned to distress.
Families had been left homeless and children separated from their parents, he added, and many would suffer psychologically in the longer term.
UK charity Plan International said people were attempting to recover bodies from buildings and huge numbers were living on the streets.
The Red Cross has set up a website to help people abroad to try to contact their relatives. A similar site has been created by two Haitians in the US.The Red Cross has set up a website to help people abroad to try to contact their relatives. A similar site has been created by two Haitians in the US.
Have you or your family been affected by the earthquake? Are you taking part in the relief effort? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Have you or your family been affected by the earthquake? Are you taking part in the relief effort? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
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