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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2010
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Contact: Zach Goldberg
202-225-5801 (office) |
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HOLT STATEMENT ON HAITI TRAGEDY
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Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Rush Holt (NJ-12) today issued the following statement in response to the tragedy in Haiti. Holt is working with the State Department to ensure the return of a group of Mercer County residents who were travelling yesterday to Haiti as part of a church trip.
“It will be days and possibly weeks before we can fathom completely the magnitude of this calamity. What we have begun to hear is heartbreaking and tragic. The nation’s infrastructure, already one of the poorest in the world, has broken down, destroying schools, hospitals, and government buildings. Relief offices have collapsed and their staff workers are among the victims. Our hearts and prayers are focused most on Haitians trapped in rubble, injured, or have died.
“I especially am concerned about a group of my constituents who yesterday were headed to Haiti as part of a church-sponsored trip and about the relatives of families of Haitian-Americans in Central New Jersey. I am in close communication with the State Department to find the church group and will work tirelessly until they are able to return safely to their loved ones in New Jersey.
“This unimaginable tragedy requires a massive humanitarian aid and rescue effort. The United States is one of many nations and NGOs to provide assistance in search and rescue operations. I know many constituents want to contribute as well, in their own way.”
The State Department has set up a Victims’ Family Hotline at 1-888-407-4747 for those with relatives in Haiti. The State Department also passed along the following information for donations: http://www.cidi.org/guidelines/guide_ln.htm.
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