Parent’s, teachers friends and family breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as 23 Grade 12 students, teachers and volunteers from Mount Sentinel School in South Slocan a town of approximately 360 people in the Kootenay region of southeastern B.C. arrived today at Trudeau International airport in Montreal after becoming stranded in Haiti after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit last week in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Canadian Forces airlifted the group on a mission to airlift 180 evacuees from the devastation left in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, the group will return home to B.C. sometime tomorrow and said they will begin fund raising immediately. No injuries were reported except a school secretary who suffered a broken rib.
Four other planeload of evacuee’s landed in Montreal airport on Friday including a group from Sauble Christian Fellowship in southern Ontario as they shared their horrifying stories they witnessed after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit and only stationed 10 kilometres from the quakes epi-center.
In updated news out of Ottawa Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said there are still over 800 Canadian missing and stated today with every minute passing the chances of finding people safe and sound is diminishing.
The death toll for Canadian who have died in the Haiti earthquake as of yesterday is at 11 with the death toll in Haiti already reaching 50,000, authorities estimating there could be as many as up to 200,000 perished in last weeks quake.
The World Food program is to date already feeding 40,000 survivors a day and is expected to feed up to 1 million a day within a month said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The World Health Organization has said eight hospitals were destroyed during the earthquake. Aid is slow to get to those in need according to people on the street despite the 180 tonnes of relief supplies that arrived Saturday and to compound the aid problem flights have been diverted to neighboring Dominican Republic with aid workers needing to cross damaged roads to get to areas in need of immediate help.
You don’t have to search far to see pictures of the devastation, hear horror stories from rescuers and survivors and to hear the same phrase that seems to sum it all up “It’s like Hell on Earth.”
As the continued efforts of aid workers, governments and people around the globe continue many people are scrambling to hold benefits a.s.a.p. to help in the aid so badly needed and will be needed for sometime to come.
Outpouring across the globe shows how we as one race of humanity can feel together. One of the many Facebook friend of mine reaching out for prayer and support posted this video she made to show her anguish she feels of what the people of Haiti and their families across the world are experiencing.
Included in those benefits is From Hamilton to Haiti benefits being held by the group Fix our World Foundation a non-partisan and non-denominational organization based in Hamilton, Ontario. All funds raised will be matched by the Canadian Government.
Our sympathy and prayers also go out to Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean native born of Port-au-Prince, Haiti her loved ones, friends and all the Haitian people who have a great deal to overcome in the many months and years to come of mourning and reconstruction.
Come out and show your support this weekend and please help make a difference.
See you there!
For more information:
“FROM HAMILTON TO HAITI”
A series of Benefit Concerts and Fundraising Actions raising money for Haiti
Crowne Plaza Lincoln Alexander Center
150 King St E (King & Catherine)
Saturday Jan 23 12pm to 5pm, 6:30pm to 12am
Sunday Jan 24 12pm to 5pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tickets in advance or at the door
Adults $10.00
Youth $ 5.00
Day Pass per person $15.00
Space is limited get your tickets early
Other Locations Corktown Pub Jan 21, Waltz Jan 21, Casbah Jan 26, Phoenix and Others info TBA
Volunteers Needed
Contact for more information
Marlene Thomas 905.521-9646-Public Relations
Linda Lannigan 905.518.1308-Coorganizer
Andrew Amoah 289.389.5404-Music Director
Russ Wilson 905.518.7479-Music Director
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