Earthquake devastates Haiti

A powerful earthquake has devastated Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, and tens of thousands of people are feared dead.

The earthquake, of magnitude 7.0, struck on the afternoon of 12 January, with its epicentre about 25 kilometres from the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Destruction

Huge parts of Port-au-Prince have been destroyed. The presidential palace, the parliament, the cathedral, hospitals, schools and thousands of homes have collapsed. The headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission was also destroyed, and many UN staff are missing.

Survivors are sleeping in the streets, afraid to go back into buildings, as aftershocks continue. Bodies lie in the rubble, and people are digging with their bare hands to find those trapped.

Haiti's president, René Préval, has said the death toll could be in the tens of thousands, and some officials fear it could be much higher.

Aid effort

Countries around the world are sending rescue teams, doctors and aid. The United States is sending troops and ships, and search and rescue teams from Britain have flown out to help.

But the relief effort is being hampered by damage to the airport and port, blocked roads and a lack of communications.

The immediate needs are water, food, shelter and medical care.

A poor country

Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, was already one of the poorest countries in the world, with most people living on less than two dollars a day. Many buildings were poorly built and could not withstand the earthquake.

The country has suffered from political instability, hurricanes and floods in recent years.

Appeals

The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an appeal in Britain, and people across the country, including in Birmingham, are raising money.

The International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, has pledged millions of pounds in aid.

The long term

Aid agencies say rebuilding Haiti will take years and billions of pounds. Many fear that disease could spread among the homeless population.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, described it as one of the most serious humanitarian crises in decades.