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UK trebling Haiti funds to £20m UK trebling Haiti funds to £20m
(about 1 hour later)
The UK government is to treble its funding for the humanitarian response to the Haiti earthquake from $10m (£6.2m) to $32m (£20m).The UK government is to treble its funding for the humanitarian response to the Haiti earthquake from $10m (£6.2m) to $32m (£20m).
The money, to be announced at an EU meeting later, will fund food, shelter, health services and relief work.The money, to be announced at an EU meeting later, will fund food, shelter, health services and relief work.
United Nations worker Frederick Wooldridge, 41, from Kent, is the first confirmed British casualty.United Nations worker Frederick Wooldridge, 41, from Kent, is the first confirmed British casualty.
The Foreign Office says more than 30 Britons are safe and well after Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake.The Foreign Office says more than 30 Britons are safe and well after Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
It said it is in touch with worried families of other Britons.It said it is in touch with worried families of other Britons.
A family statement said Mr Wooldridge had "loved" his work and "had many friends in the UN and beyond".A family statement said Mr Wooldridge had "loved" his work and "had many friends in the UN and beyond".
The prime minister is hugely grateful for the work that Frederick and others were doing to build a stronger Haiti, and giving people hope where they had none Downing Street spokesman UK rescuers continue Haiti search Aid effort 'tougher than tsunami'The prime minister is hugely grateful for the work that Frederick and others were doing to build a stronger Haiti, and giving people hope where they had none Downing Street spokesman UK rescuers continue Haiti search Aid effort 'tougher than tsunami'
He was a senior political affairs and planning officer at the UN, for which he had worked in Geneva and Liberia before moving to Haiti in 2007.He was a senior political affairs and planning officer at the UN, for which he had worked in Geneva and Liberia before moving to Haiti in 2007.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister is hugely grateful for the work that Frederick and others were doing in the UN Stabilisation Mission: helping to build a stronger Haiti, and giving people hope where they had none."A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister is hugely grateful for the work that Frederick and others were doing in the UN Stabilisation Mission: helping to build a stronger Haiti, and giving people hope where they had none."
The increased funding from the Department for International Development is to be announced at a meeting of European Union development ministers in Brussels later.The increased funding from the Department for International Development is to be announced at a meeting of European Union development ministers in Brussels later.
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said it was clear "the international community is dealing with an almost unprecedented level of devastation".International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said it was clear "the international community is dealing with an almost unprecedented level of devastation".
"To address the needs of the immediate humanitarian response, the UK government will pledge a further $20m, on top of the $10m initially donated," he said.
Mr Wooldridge was a keen skier and mountaineerMr Wooldridge was a keen skier and mountaineer
"To address the needs of the immediate humanitarian response, the UK government will pledge a further $20m, on top of the $10m initially donated," he said.
He told BBC News: "The most basics of human life - water, food, shelter - are exactly what's lacking at the moment."He told BBC News: "The most basics of human life - water, food, shelter - are exactly what's lacking at the moment."
Money so far pledged by the Department for International Development (Dfid) has been used by the Haitian Red Cross to help 20,000 families.Money so far pledged by the Department for International Development (Dfid) has been used by the Haitian Red Cross to help 20,000 families.
It has also been used by the World Food Programme for transport and the organisation of relief.It has also been used by the World Food Programme for transport and the organisation of relief.
Funds have also been used to transport and deploy UK search and rescue teams.Funds have also been used to transport and deploy UK search and rescue teams.
It is unclear how many Britons remain unaccounted for in Haiti after the earthquake, which killed tens of thousands.It is unclear how many Britons remain unaccounted for in Haiti after the earthquake, which killed tens of thousands.
Relatives say hope is fading for missing UN worker Ann Barnes Haiti quake: Aid workers' diaries
Steven Fisher, the UK's ambassador to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, said the Foreign Office's rapid deployment team was "doing quite well" in their efforts to account for expatriate Britons.Steven Fisher, the UK's ambassador to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, said the Foreign Office's rapid deployment team was "doing quite well" in their efforts to account for expatriate Britons.
But he added: "Even getting out and visiting a few sites in the city takes an awful lot of effort."But he added: "Even getting out and visiting a few sites in the city takes an awful lot of effort."
However, one British survivor - bank worker Alistair Cameron, from Inverness - disputed reports access was such a problem.
"Where there was a blockage due to fallen trees or masonry from collapsed buildings, I always found, without too much difficulty, an alternative route," he said.
Mr Cameron added that while there might be problems bringing aid into Haiti, there was "certainly no problem" distributing it.
The Foreign Office said it was beginning to repatriate UK nationals, and had "located and checked on over 30 other Brits, who have confirmed they are safe and well".The Foreign Office said it was beginning to repatriate UK nationals, and had "located and checked on over 30 other Brits, who have confirmed they are safe and well".
Relatives say hope is fading for missing UN worker Ann Barnes class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8458915.stm">Haiti quake: Aid workers' diaries The DEC appeal for victims of the earthquake in Haiti
Another UN worker, Ann Barnes, 59, of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, is feared to have been killed in the collapse of the headquarters in the capital.Another UN worker, Ann Barnes, 59, of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, is feared to have been killed in the collapse of the headquarters in the capital.
The UN has lost at least 40 workers, including the head of the local mission, Hedi Annabi, who has been found dead in the rubble.The UN has lost at least 40 workers, including the head of the local mission, Hedi Annabi, who has been found dead in the rubble.
Ms Barnes's sister, Irene Marquet, said: "She must be still there in the rubble which is an awful thing to know."Ms Barnes's sister, Irene Marquet, said: "She must be still there in the rubble which is an awful thing to know."
A 71-strong British search-and-rescue team, which includes a number of firefighters and two search dogs, have been deployed the region. A 71-strong British search-and-rescue team, which includes a number of firefighters and two search dogs, has been deployed the region.
In Port-au-Prince, the British rescuers have pulled several survivors from collapsed buildings, including a two-year-old girl removed from the rubble of a nursery on Friday. They have pulled several survivors from collapsed buildings but members say the prospects of finding survivors worsen with each passing day.
The DEC appeal for victims of the earthquake in Haiti 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 class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8456730.stm">Haiti: How to help
But Wiltshire firefighter Dan Cooke, who is part of the rescue team, warned: "The people are very tough as a nation and the weather conditions help to keep people alive but as the days go on the chances of people surviving fall massively."
Britons have so far donated £15m to the Disasters and Emergency Committee, an umbrella group of 13 major British-based charities which has broadcast appeals on TV and radio.Britons have so far donated £15m to the Disasters and Emergency Committee, an umbrella group of 13 major British-based charities which has broadcast appeals on TV and radio.
The group says a £25 donation buys a kit of household essentials, £50 is enough to feed a family for a fortnight and £100 funds temporary shelter for two families.The group says a £25 donation buys a kit of household essentials, £50 is enough to feed a family for a fortnight and £100 funds temporary shelter for two families.
Separately, the government has allocated £2m to deal with "logistical problems" on the ground in Haiti, such as the provision of cars and lorries to distribute aid, and to improve communications links. The UK's ambassador said there was "concern" about the safety of aid workers, with some reporting hearing gunfire and seeing youths carrying machetes.
Among DEC members' initial responses to the disaster, an Action Aid emergency team is delivering clean water, shelter and blankets to 20,000 people. Some charities have taken security guards, while others are being supported by UN security forces.
Meanwhile, British Red Cross staff and volunteers have distributed kitchen and personal hygiene kits, blankets, tarpaulins and water containers. Meanwhile, the Red Cross has set up a class="inlineText" href="http://www.icrc.org/familylinks">website to help people abroad to try to contact their relatives. A similar class="inlineText" href="http://koneksyon.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=59&page=2">site has been created by two Haitians in the US.
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 DEC radio appeal Haiti: How to help
The UK's ambassador said there was "concern" about the safety of aid workers.
Search-and-rescue worker Dan Cooke said: "You hear gunfire, you see gangs of youths carrying machetes but to some extent that is part of the culture here.
"We are doing quite well. The UN security forces are attaching themselves to us and some teams have brought their own armed security.
"We have been working with other teams and local people and they have been fantastic."
The organisation United Haitians in the UK has asked for donations of clothes, medicine and money.
And 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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