Originally posted Jan 13, 2010 in the Calgary Sun online --- Calgary based NGO racing to help in Haiti

Staff at an international relief organization based in Calgary has been working tirelessly to help deliver manpower and emergency supplies to Haiti since a deadly earthquake struck the country Tuesday afternoon.

Samaritan’s Purse, which has its Canadian headquarters in Calgary, Wednesday flew four North Carolina workers from Florida to Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on a charter that touched down before nightfall, which was crucial, as the airport had no electricity.

Samaritan’s Purse spokesman Martin Silbernagel said the team took emergency water purification kits, 4,800 blankets, 160 rolls of plastic to build temporary shelters, 2,200 solar-powered flashlights, two community water filters that can each filter up to 40,000 litres of water per day, 11,000 jerrycans, and 1,440 hygiene kits.

A second team made up of six Ecuadorian doctors, five Americans and one Canadian is expected to fly down Thursday to help, said Silbernagel.

Samaritan’s Purse’s partner agency, the Baptist Haiti Mission located on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, has been keeping touch with staffers in Canada to keep them updated on the situation.

“It’s been pretty spotty, as you can imagine,” said Silbernagel.

“But we’re hearing about a lot of building collapses and a lot of people out in the streets, not really sure what to do.”

A third team of approximately four Calgarians is expected to fly to Haiti next week to relieve the other workers.

As well, a number of Samaritan’s Purse teams will be sent from both Canada and the U.S. over the next several months as part of the organization’s long-term relief strategy.

Many of the materials that have already been sent were paid for by the organization’s general disaster relief fund, but a separate account — specific to the current situation in Haiti — has now been established and is accepting donations.

For more information, call 1-800-663-6500 or visit samaritanspurse.ca.