For the latest updates on The Salvation Army’s response to this disaster, please visit http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/, http://twitter.com/salvationarmyus and http://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyUSA.

Overview
The Salvation Army is in the midst of its largest international relief effort since the Tsunami in 2005
- More than 700 officers and staff permanently stationed in Haiti are responding to the needs of the people there.

- 42 Salvation Army disaster response workers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and other countries, including 14 medical personnel, have been sent to Haiti and are administering aid.

- The first major Salvation Army shipment of more than 80,000 pounds of emergency food and water is en route to Haiti via Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

- The Salvation Army is working with the Hatian government, the U.S. military, FEMA, the United Nations, other NGOs and its corporate partners to implement a broad response to the tragedy.

Updates
Since response began, The Salvation Army has distributed more than 24,000 meal kits to families in Port Au Prince.
-Thousands of people have made their home in a large soccer field behind the main Salvation Army compound at Delmas 2 in Port Au Prince and emergency teams are concentrating efforts assisting these people.

- The meal kits, provided by the United Nations World Food Program, are enough to supply a family with five days of food.

- A 10,000 gallon water purification system is also operational.

- 4,000 pairs of light weight shoes (“ducks”) were distributed to survivors.

- United Nations security personnel have been providing assistance to ensure an efficient and orderly distribution process.

- Workers on-the-ground have observed that food is such a desperate need that many people with even severe wounds will line up to receive food
BEFORE seeking medical treatment because they feel that the lack of food is the greater threat to their immediate survival.

More than 800 people have been given medical aid by Salvation Army doctors, nurses, paramedics and other specialists trained in medical care.
- A 14-person team of doctors, nurses and other medical specialists from United States, Canada, the U.K. and other countries are treating hundreds of people per day in Port Au Prince and elsewhere.

- These medical teams have delivered several babies at the main compound and have also been dispatched to various orphanages in the area to assist children and infants who have had little help since the earthquake struck.

More than 80,000 pounds of emergency food and water is en route to Haiti via Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
- The shipment originated from a Salvation Army warehouse in Miami where relief supplies are being staged.

- The shipment consists of 20 pallets of food that will provide more than 91,000 meals in addition to water -- packaged in ½ liter bottles and gallon jugs.

- The flight is being facilitated through the United Parcel Service (UPS) and, due to the logistical challenges of getting large planes into Haiti directly, will fly through Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

- The supplies will be trucked into Port Au Prince to be distributed by Salvation Army relief teams.

- Small planes containing medical supplies and relief workers have been arriving into Haiti since Friday, January 15.

Monetary donations and prayer are the two most critical needs as supplies and personnel are mobilized
- As of Thursday (1-21-10), The Salvation Army had raised more than $5.9 million for relief efforts.

- Donors can text the word HAITI to 52000 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts via their phone bill.   It is important for donors to confirm their donation with the word, “yes.”

- Monetary donations can also be made through:
www.givesalvationarmy.org
1-800-SAL-ARMY
The Salvation Army
Disaster Relief Fund
3612 Cuming Street
Omaha NE 68131
*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*
Even before donations are processed, The Salvation Army is committing and spending money on relief efforts in Haiti. Donations are critical now and also help ensure that the long-term needs of the Haitian people are met.

The Omaha community can also help by attending a special event on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 8:00 pm at Casa del Sol, 23rd & N Streets.  KBBX Radio Lobo and Sonido Travieso are sponsoring a dance featuring several local Spanish bands.  The $10.00 per person cover charge will be donated to The Salvation Army Haiti Disaster Relief Fund.

Note:  At this time, there are no plans to send personnel from The Salvation Army Western Division, based in Omaha, Nebraska.  The Western Division includes Nebraska, South Dakota and Western Iowa.