Haiti diaster 2010

After the magnitude 7.0 quake that struck about 10 miles southwest of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince on the 12 Januray 2010 killing as many as 50,000 people and injuring many more, there have been further reports of a breakdown in law and order. The Haitian authorities are in a state of disorganisation, and travellers should take extra care whilst travelling, particularly at night. There have been reports of attacks on travellers on the main road between Port-au-Prince and the border with the Dominican Republic. There have been random shootings of civilians in incidents of street robbery. Foreign nationals have also occasionally been caught in the crossfire of gang violence.

Haiti has had its fair share of natural disasters:
1770 - Earthquake devastates Port-au-Prince
1842 - Quake destroys Cap-Haitien, other cities
1935 - Storm kills 2,000
1946 - Tsunami kills 1,790
1954 - Hurricane Hazel kills hundreds
1963 - Hurricane Flora kills 6,000 in Haiti and Cuba
1994 - Hurricane Gordon kills hundreds
1998 - Hurricane Georges destroys 80% of crops
2004 - Floods kill 2,600
2004 - Tropical Storm Jeanne kills 1,900
2007 - Tropical Storm Noel triggers mudslides, floods
2008 - Three hurricanes and tropical storm kill 800
2010 - Quake hits Port-Au-Prince, killing thousands
Sources: AP, US Geological Survey

The Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) are currently advising against all but essential travel to Haiti. There are media reports of a large number of casualties and of extensive damage to infrastructure, including buildings in the Port au Prince area. British nationals in Haiti are requested to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo on telephone number 001 809 472 7111 or by email at: brit.emb.sadom@codetel.net.do to confirm their wellbeing. If you are a worried relative in the UK, you should contact the Foreign Office on 020 7008 1500.
British nationals in Haiti who want to be evacuated and have a valid passport should make their way to the airport and go to the British Consular Reception Centre. British nationals without a passport should go to the British Consular Reception Centre at the Canadian Embassy.

The FCO are recommending that those that are travelling to the region should obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. It should be noted however that most travel insurers in the UK have a standard restriction in their policy wordings where someone is travelling against the advice of the FCO. You should therefore check this point with your choosen insurer before you buy travel insurance.

Some Key facts about Haiti:
Full name: Republic of Haiti
Population: 10 million (UN, 2009)
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Area: 27,750 sq km (10,714 sq miles)
Major languages: Creole French
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 59 years (men), 63 years (women) (UN)
Main exports: Light manufactures, coffee, oils, mangoes

Those people wishing to donate to the Haiti appeal can do so via:
Christian Aid
Oxfam
Unicef