Haiti quake appeal tops £200k mark

The money has flooded into the Evening News-backed appeal, launched by city-based charity Mercy Corps and the city council in the immediate aftermath of the quake on 12 January.

It is just one of the many ways that local residents have been working to help people in the shattered island nation where more than 150,000 people are reported to have been killed and 1.5 million left homeless.

How you can help: Donate via the mercy corps website at www.mercycorps.org.uk/haiti or by calling 0845 245 0686 between 8am and 8pm.

John Cunningham, director of fundraising at Mercy Corps, said: "The appeal has now raised over 200,000 to help survivors of the Haiti earthquake.

"This is a massive response from the people of Edinburgh and with schools, community organisations and workplaces mobilising to raise even more funds, we are confident that we'll be able to push this total even higher.

"This money will make a very real difference to survivors who are now homeless, jobless and vulnerable to hunger, thirst and disease.

"Just 1 is enough to provide clean and safe drinking water to an earthquake survivor for a whole month, 8 will provide them with access to a safe nearby latrine and 12 will provide them with a hygiene kit.

"The money is also being used to deliver psychosocial support to children who have survived the earthquake and pay earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, clean wells and clear agricultural land to kick-start local market economies."

As well as helping the Mercy Corps appeal, generous residents in the Capital have handed over more than 5,000 in a collection to help the victims in Haiti.

A collection by the Rotary Club of Edinburgh saw 45 volunteers asking for donations in the city centre on Saturday.

The money will be used to provide shelter boxes for some of the victims. The boxes contain a ten-person tent, as well as ground sheets, water purification tablets, tool kits, multi-fuel stoves and cooking utensils. Each box costs an average of 490.

In total, the Rotary Club collected 5,665.95. Members admitted they had been overwhelmed by the response, with one collector stunned to discover a 50 note in his bucket.

OXFAM CALLS FOR SHOP VOLUNTEERS

OXFAM Scotland is calling on Edinburgh residents to help the people of Haiti by donating some free time to their local charity shop.

All money raised from sales in Oxfam shops is used to fund the organisation's work in countries around the world, including Haiti.

Oxfam's area manager for the east of Scotland, Jo Christison, said: "You don't need to be a logistician or an engineer to help the people of Haiti.

"There is plenty to do here in Edinburgh."