Posted January 27, 2010 by Ross Hornsey

Scots rally to aid Haiti efforts

By Gilly Mathieson
BBC - Politics Show, January 24, 2010

It is now almost two weeks since a massive earthquake hit Haiti but, as the search for survivors is called off, Scottish aid efforts are continuing in the Caribbean and at home.

Alistair Cameron, who was working in Haiti as a financial consultant, said he was lucky to have survived the disaster.

"I was in my car stationary at the time with some of my colleagues and our driver when the earthquake struck," he said.

"Night was falling and visibility was very poor, possibly as a consequence of the crumbling buildings and the dust.

"I was aware of large numbers of people running in different directions falling over, slipping, picking themselves up. The noise was indescribable."

Also working in the capital Port au Prince and surrounding areas is Scots charity Mary's Meals, which has been providing 12,000 Haitian school children with food for four years.

The charity's Imogen Walsh said the Haiti was crippled by poverty even before the earthquake struck.

She said: "It's going to last years and years before there's any sense of normality, but we're trying to get our school projects up and running again to start the feeding and start getting children back into school."

An estimated 1.5 million people have been left homeless following the disaster and tens of thousands have no access to food, water and medical supplies.

Their plight moved the children at Lorne Primary School, in Edinburgh.

Head teacher Colin McLean, said: "We're lucky in this country we have very good news coverage of what's going on around the world, and we're also lucky there seems to be a very strong social conscience in Scotland - and the children brought both of those things together this week and really wanted to do something to help."

According to the disasters relief committee, through which the public can donate to British aid agencies, Scots have already given £3.5m to the Haiti campaign - 8% of the £53m total so far.

But the recession has been felt by many Scots charities.

International Rescue Corps, the rapid response disaster rescue service, were unable to help in Haiti following an 80% drop in donations over the past 12 months.

The organisation's Willie McMartin, said: "Had we responded we would have been bankrupt at this point in time.

It has been predicted Haiti may need on-going aid for some time
"The government who used to help by covering some of the travel arrangements withdrew that support last year and this has changed the face of it."

Other Scottish based humanitarian aid charities are working in Haiti.

Mercy Corps, which has its European Headquarters in Edinburgh, has seen donations fall by 20%.

Emergency aid to Haiti will continue for some time.

The UK government has already promised £20m and a Royal Naval ship will soon be loaded with aid to help with the relief operation.

The Scottish government is giving £250,000 and lending personnel to charities to enable them to concentrate on the relief effort.

But what happens next? Where does this leave Haiti and how can its future stability be ensured?