THE Herald & Post and its partners are joining the global aid effort to help the people of Haiti following the earthquake which has devastated large parts of the country.
The Haitian population has been displaced since the disaster, which struck on Tuesday, 12 January, w
ith no food, water or clothes. Around 200,000 people are thought to have lost their lives in one of the world's worst natural disasters.
The Herald & Post has teamed up with official partners, West Lothian Council and World Emergency Relief (WER), to raise money and collect clothes to send to Haiti to help volunteers on the ground support the millions of people who have been left homeless, starving and in need of vital healthcare.
WER is a leading international relief and development organisation working to feed and protect poor children all over the world.
Its workers were on the ground in Haiti – a country which suffers from extreme poverty – at the time of the earthquake and have joined the international aid effort to provide essentials to its stricken people through food, medical support and aid. It currently supports more than 30 projects, including orphanages, healthcare and education, in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America and the Caribbean Basin.
Since 2008, WER has sent shipments of Gifts In Kind (GIK) to Haiti to the value of £7.5 million.
Alex Haxton, WER chief executive, said: "The earthquake in Haiti is a catastrophe affecting thousands of the world's poorest people. The survivors face the biggest crisis of their lives.
"Even now there are people dying for want of medical treatment, safe water, food and shelter. But I take hope from the response of people here in the UK to this crisis.
"I have been amazed at the willingness of people to help. The Herald & Post Haiti Appeal is a great example of this spirit and World Emergency Relief is delighted to be involved. The goods and cash collected through this appeal will go directly to help people in desperate need."
West Lothian Council has prepared ten community centres where county residents can donate clothing, shoes and blankets.
They are: Whitburn Community Centre, 33 Manse Road; West Calder Community Centre, Dickson Street; Bathgate Community Centre, Marjoribanks Street; The Lanthorn Community Complex, Kenilworth Rise, Dedridge, Livingston; Strathbrock Partnership Centre, 189a West Main Street, Broxburn; Craigsfarm Campus, Maree Walk, Craigshill, Livingston; Blackburn Community Centre, Ash Grove; Low Port Outdoor Education Centre, Blackness Road, Linlithgow; Craig Inn Centre, Main Street, Blackridge; East Calder Community Centre, 133 Main Street.
Glasgow The Caring City (GTCC), which works in partnership with WER, has agreed to collect all clothes donations from West Lothian and help ship them to Haiti.
Council leader Peter Johnston said: "It will take many years before the people of Haiti can get back on their feet.
"An estimated 1.5 million people have been left homeless and as many as 200,000 people are thought to have died.
"There's a need for massive support from the international community to help the people of Haiti and this is an opportunity for the people of West Lothian to play their part.
"West Lothian Council is delighted to work in partnership with the Herald and Post and local businesses to help the people of Haiti. I'm sure everyone has spare shoes, blankets or clothes that they can donate and I'd encourage them to visit one of the ten community centres and donate to this appeal."
Just £5 is enough to provide food for a child for a whole week; £20 will provide rehydration treatment and safe water for all 150 students at the WER-supported Good Samaritan school in Cite Soleil, one of the largest slums in the world.
This will prevent people from dying due to sanitation problems during the crisis. Fifty pounds will provide basic painkillers to more than 100 people. With many thousands injured these kinds of medicines will often be the only anaesthetics available.
One hundred pounds will allow WER to provide antibiotics to prevent infections; £150 will help them to ship a full box of medicines that will allow for the emergency treatment of around 500 patients.
Any amount will save lives.
The Herald & Post is organising a Wear Red To Work Day next Friday, 5 February in partnership with GTCC in remembrance of the dead and to show solidarity with survivors.
We are encouraging local workplaces and businesses to get involved to raise as much money as possible. Debenhams in The Centre in Livingston has kindly organised three charity fashion shows in partnership with the Miss West Lothian organisation on the same day.
Herald & Post editor Scott McAngus said: "Everyone I have spoken to
about this disaster has been shocked and saddened by what the people of Haiti are going through and said they wished they could help them.
"We hope to mobilise the whole West Lothian community to help with this appeal and we have received tremendous support so far from our partners West Lothian Council and many other individuals.
"We would like residents and local businesses to join us through fundraising events or by simply sending in donations or dropping off essential clothing at their nearest community centre. This appeal gives the West Lothian community the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of so many people who are still suffering. Please help us save lives."
To get involved in the appeal, or to let us know about your own fundraising, contact 01506 670205 or westlothian news@scotsman.com
HOW TO DONATE:
COLLECTION buckets are placed in the West Lothian Herald & Post office at 114 High Street, Linlithgow, and in county community centres. More buckets will be distributed at outlets in West Lothian in the coming weeks.
Cheques can be made payable to: Herald & Post Haiti Appeal and mailed to our Linlithgow office at the address above.
Alternatively, make a donation online at www.wer-uk.org/content/earthquake-haiti-emergency-appeal or by calling 0844 249 2129.
You can also donate by text message. Simply send the word "Help" to 88008. You will be charged £1.50 plus one message at your standard network rate. World Emergency Relief will receive approximately £1 from each message sent.
You can increase this amount if you click through to Gift Aid your donation. For help please telephone 0844 249 2129.
To donate clothing, shoes and blankets, please visit one of the ten community centres listed above. For more information on how to get involved , call 01506 670205 or e-mail westlothiannews@scotsman.com
