AMERICA/HAITI - Dramatic testimony of Apostolic Nuncio to Fides: “Port-au-Prince is completely devastated. Everywhere, you can hear cries from under the rubble.”

Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) - “Port-au-Prince is completely devastated. The Cathedral, the Archbishop's Residence, all the great churches, all the seminaries are reduced to rubble.

The pastor of the Cathedral, who survived the earthquake, told me that the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince perished under the rubble, along with hundreds of seminarians and priests who are under the rubble." This is the dramatic testimony of the Apostolic Nuncio of Haiti, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, contacted by Fides after the violent earthquake that shook the country yesterday afternoon.

The Archbishop continued: "The National Palace is still standing. This morning I went to express condolences and solidarity to the President of the Republic, who was saved because he was out with the family. His private home has been destroyed. All the Ministerial buildings, except that of Culture have been destroyed.

Parliament, with its senators; schools with children; supermarkets have all been reduced to nothing. The headquarters of MINUSTAH (the UN headquarters for Aid in Haiti) is reduced to a heap of concrete and hundreds of people are trapped, including the Head of Delegation, Hedi Annabi, I have been told by people that live in front of the headquarters.”

The Nuncio has toured the devastated city as best he could and tells Fides: "I have just returned this morning. I found priests and nuns in the streets, without homes. The Rector of the seminary survived, as did the Dean of Studies, but the seminarians are under the rubble. Everywhere, you can hear cries from under the rubble. The CIFOR - Institute of Studies for the Men and Women Religious - has collapsed with the students inside, participating in a conference. The nunciature building has withstood the earthquake, without any injuries, but we are all amazed! So many things are broken, including the Tabernacle, but we are more fortunate than others.

Many family members of the staff were killed, their homes destroyed. Everyone is calling for help. We will have problems of water and food before long. We cannot enter or stay inside the house much, as the earth continues to shake, so we are camped in the garden." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/01/2010)

Caritas delivers emergency assistance in Haiti as appeal is opened

“It is a disaster of the century. We should be prepared for thousands of dead and injured”, said Caritas USA staff member Karel Zalenka from Port au Prince. Mr Zalenka who works with USA Caritas member Catholic Relief Services said Port-au-Prince is covered with a plume of dust from damaged buildings. I’ve been in earthquakes before, but I’ve never felt anything like this before” he said before communications were cut off.

Caritas will provide immediate assistance to survivors following the deadly earthquake in Haiti. Caritas Internationalis has assembled an emergency relief team that is flying to Haiti to provide support to Caritas members already working in the country.

Communications are badly affected on the ground and as yet no contact has been made with Caritas Haiti. The Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, adjacent to the Caritas Haiti office, is badly damaged.

Caritas has extensive operations across Haiti supported by global Caritas members. Catholic Relief Services (a Caritas member in the USA) has been in communication with its staff in Haiti. Their office is still standing and staff present at the time of the quake are safe. CRS staff described the quake as “a major hit…a direct hit”.

Caritas Internationalis Humanitarian Director Alistair Dutton is leading the team. He said, “We already know that Caritas staff will be providing support to survivors of the earthquake, such as food, shelter and comfort through churches and parish networks.

Ms Jamie Davies, Director of Caritas Australia’s Programs team and with extensive experience in Haiti said, “An initial priority for Caritas will be to assess the damage and our local capacity to provide aid to survivors of the quake. Caritas runs over 200 hospitals and medical centres in Haiti. It is experienced and prepared to respond to humanitarian disasters there as a result of the frequent hurricanes.

“Communication with our staff on the ground is difficult, but we are piecing together a picture of desperate need. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Conflict, recent natural disasters, and poverty has left Haitians with a weak infrastructure. Working in that environment will be difficult”, concluded Ms Davies.

You can support the Caritas Australia Haiti Emergency Response Appeal by calling 1800 024 413 or by donating on line at https://www.caritas.org.au/source/Donation