Douglas Alexander MP

Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Paisley MP backs appeal by leading UK charities for Haiti earthquake victims

14 January 2010

Douglas Alexander, local MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South has today backed the emergency appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which brings together leading UK charities such as Save the Children, Oxfam and World Vision, to respond to the devastating earthquake which has struck Haiti.

In his role as Secretary of State for International Development, he has also been co-ordinating the UK government response to the crisis, and announced this morning an immediate million [over £6 million] to aid the victims, following the earlier deployment of a search and rescue team comprised of UK firefighters.

Douglas Alexander said:

“The scenes on our television screens have deeply shocked us all. I spoke to our Ambassador on the ground this morning to hear directly about the tragic situation. It is clear that we are facing a major humanitarian crisis. Haiti needs help and it needs it now.
 
“The most pressing need is for international search and rescue teams – including firefighters from all over Britain - to get on with their work of saving lives – and I applaud their work.

“But at the same time there is an overwhelming requirement for food, water, sanitation, shelter and medicine among the people who have been made homeless.

“That is why I announced that the Department for International Development will provide an immediate million of UK Aid to help kickstart humanitarian relief in Haiti.
 
“It is also at times like these that I have always been so impressed by the generosity of people in communities across Renfrewshire.

“I would strongly encourage local people to support the new appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee for UK charities who will be undertaking life-saving work in Haiti – you can make a donation by calling 0370 60 60 900 or visiting www.dec.org.uk”