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
-The United Nations has designated The Salvation Army as the “lead agency” responsible for the care of some 20,000 people made homeless by the earthquake and now living near the Army’s main compound at Delmas 2 in Port-au-Prince.

-More than 80,000 pounds of food, water and other emergency supplies were delivered to The Salvation Army compound with the help of United Parcel Service (UPS). (1/23/10)

-In a small sign that life will return to normal, The Salvation Army has re-opened a school for children aged 3 to 6 in a temporary site at the organization’s compound in Port-au-Prince.

-700 Salvation Army officers and staff permanently stationed in Haiti have been joined by more than 40 disaster response workers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and other countries,

-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
The United Nations has designated The Salvation Army as the “lead agency” responsible for the care of some 20,000 people made homeless by the earthquake
-The survivors have established make-shift tent cities at a soccer stadium and another plaza near The Salvation Army’s main compound at Delmas 2 in Port-au-Prince.

-So far, more than 24,000 meal kits, with food sufficient to supply a family with five days of food, have been distributed.

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

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

-More than 1,200 people have been given medical aid by Salvation Army doctors, nurses, paramedics and other specialists trained in medical care.

-In a small sign that life will return to normal, The Salvation Army has re-opened a school for children aged 3 to 6 in a temporary site at the organization’s compound.

More than 80,000 pounds of food, water and other emergency supplies were delivered to The Salvation Army compound with the help of UPS
-The shipment originated from a Salvation Army warehouse in Miami and 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 was facilitated through the United Parcel Service (UPS) and, due to the logistical challenges of getting large planes into Haiti directly, entered through Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

-The supplies were then trucked over-land 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
-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 Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and its personnel who were affected by the earthquake are now working to assist others in need
-The Salvation Army operates schools, clinics, hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities through some 60 Corps community centers across the country.

-For more information about The Salvation Army’s activity responding to the disaster in Haiti, please visit http://www.salvationarmyhaiti.org/ or their Facebook pages at http://bit.ly/8AAgWs , http://bit.ly/6T7KHa, and http://bit.ly/6e9aUs.

-Bob Poff, the Director of Disaster Services for The Salvation Army in Haiti, shares his story about the earthquake here: http://bit.ly/721Jk2.

-All photos, video and other material on these pages are free for public and media distribution.

About The Salvation Army USA
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 129 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

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.