Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday ordered rescue workers, food and medical supplies to be sent to Haiti where an earthquake killed hundreds, maybe tens of thousands of people.
“I would like to reiterate our deep sense of pain over this tragedy of the Haitan people. We are hurting,” Uribe said in a press release.
“The Colombian government has arranged the following: a delegation of rescue workers, members of Accion Social (the government department dedicated to helping war victims), disaster attention personnel, with these three institutions and a military aircraft will be sent as soon as possible,” the president announced.
“We will also make an effort to send food and medicine to the Haitan people,” Uribe added.
The president called on the United Nations to coordinate recue efforts on the Caribbean island.
Colombia is one of many countries to send rescue teams and aid to Haiti. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is sending a search and rescue team of at least 72 people and six dogs.
Haitian communities across the US, including south Florida where an estimated 275,000 Haitians live, are also organising donations and relief efforts.
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed hundreds of people on Tuesday evening, with many thousands more feared dead.
