Many African nations continue to donate money and lifesaving or emergency support services to the earthquake-stricken people of Haiti.

Worldwide, governments have now pledged more than $1 billion in emergency aid. Despite their own financial difficulties and development challenges, the people of Africa are also doing their part.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has announced it is sending $2.5 million in emergency aid to help Haitian earthquake victims. DRC Information Minister Lambert Mende told the BBC, “Congo isn’t bankrupt; our own problems should not prevent us from helping a brother country.”

An amount of US$3 million would tomorrow reach the people of Haiti from the Government of Ghana to support humanitarian efforts.

Red Cross and Salvation Army South Africa have launched appeals nationwide for $4 million in emergency aid. The NGO “Gift of Givers” has also collected more than $600,000 in emergency supplies. South Africa has also deployed two search-and-rescue teams to Haiti.

Senegal’s president, Abdoulaye Wade, has offered $1 million in aid, while Gabon is pledging $1 million in funding.

Equatorial Guinea has pledged $2 million in emergency earthquake relief. In a written statement, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said, “Although our two countries are separated by an ocean, Equatorial Guinea stands with the victims in Haiti in this time of distress and chaos.”

The funds pledged by the Equatorial Guinean government, like those of many other foreign governments, are being transmitted to Haiti with the help of the United Nations, the statement added.

Mauritius, which has pledged some $500,000, has mobilized nationwide to help raise funds for the earthquake victims. The city council of Beau-Bassin–Rose Hill, which is the country’s second-largest city, announced January 20 that a TV charity event would be held January 29 to collect donations for Haiti.

Botswana is donating $150,000 to the earthquake relief effort, calling the donation “a token of the friendship, goodwill and solidarity that exists between the government and people of Botswana and the government of Haiti.”

Rwanda is sending $100,000, as is Sierra Leone, while Namibia has pledged $1 million. The Namibian Red Cross has launched a nationwide appeal for the victims and has told the Namibian Broadcasting Company that although the government has responded to Haiti’s predicament, the need is so great the public is being asked to step up and donate as well.

The government of Liberia has announced a $50,000 donation. An Information Ministry release detailing the donation says the relationship between Haiti and Liberia dates to the founding of the Liberian state.

In Kenya, the Red Cross has launched a joint appeal with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Benin has established bank accounts to accept donations for earthquake victims and to support the approximately 50 Haitian students studying at a university in Benin. The country has also offered to increase the number of national police it has deployed to the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and offered to send military forces to the U.N. mission there.

The list of donations from African countries keeps growing everyday.

Source: Afrik.com/Africanews
Photo: EPA/TIAGO PETINGA