AmeriCares Emergency Airlift Lands in Haiti

Plane arrives carrying over $6 million worth of medicines and supplies

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AmeriCares first emergency airlift carrying over $6 million worth of critically needed medical aid for Haiti earthquake survivors has arrived in Port-au-Prince.

The airlift, which touched down at 8:30 p.m. tonight, includes antibiotics that fight infections and pain medicines for survivors with broken bones, as well as other critically needed relief supplies.  AmeriCares initially planned to deliver $5 million worth of aid, but due to the immense outpouring of donations, another $1 million of aid was added prior to takeoff.  The AmeriCares emergency response team in Haiti is working to quickly distribute the medicines and supplies to hospitals and health clinics treating the injured.

"It's such a rewarding feeling to know these lifesaving medicines are in Port-au-Prince and ready to be delivered to medical facilities crowded with patients awaiting treatment," said AmeriCares Chief of Staff Carol Shattuck, who accompanied the airlift.  "This is the first of many AmeriCares deliveries to help the people of Haiti recover from this tragedy.  We have committed $15 million worth of aid, and AmeriCares will be delivering more desperately needed medicines, bottled water and nutritional supplements in the days, weeks and months ahead."

AmeriCares also airlifted medicines and supplies into the Dominican Republic today to truck into Haiti, as well as deliver to hospitals treating Haitian earthquake survivors crossing the border for treatment.

AmeriCares, a global health and disaster relief organization, has provided emergency relief and lifesaving aid for millions affected by catastrophic disasters around the world since 1982.  AmeriCares has been working in Haiti since 1984, and since that time has delivered over $145 million in aid to the country.

About AmeriCares:

AmeriCares is a nonprofit international disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world.  Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $9 billion in humanitarian aid to 137 countries.  For more information, log onto www.AmeriCares.org

SOURCE AmeriCares