Brazil to send humanitarian mission to Haiti after “tragic” earthquake

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian government on Thursday (19) announced that it will send a humanitarian mission to Haiti to assist victims of the earthquake of August 14, which has killed some 2,200 people and injured over 12,000 in that country.

The Brazilian delegation is scheduled to leave for Port-au-Prince next weekend, “with the purpose of taking personnel and support material,” in reaction to the tragedy caused by the earthquake, the government said in a note.

Rescue teams specialized in urban landslides will be part of the mission, which will also take “medicine kits and other strategic supplies to provide emergency medical assistance” to the victims.

According to official estimates, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake has left over half a million people in need of urgent humanitarian aid in Haiti, which has seen its hospitals overwhelmed particularly in the most affected areas.

“The Government of Brazil reiterates its solidarity with the Haitian people and affirms its commitment to Haiti’s welfare and stability,” read the statement signed by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defense, Health and Regional Development.

Brazil’s announcement follows Argentina’s, which also on Thursday said it will send a humanitarian mission to Haiti with health personnel and medical supplies.

Last Saturday’s earthquake affected mainly the Caribbean country’s southwestern region and is one of the deadliest in recent Latin American history.

Haiti previously suffered an even more devastating earthquake in January 2010 that killed some 300,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless.