-MEDIA ALERT-

Coconut Creek, Fla. (August 27, 2008) – A leading international aid agency is making an urgent appeal for donations to help speed recovery efforts for the victims of Hurricane Gustav in Haiti.

Florida-based Food For The Poor says it has received reports from the field that there is severe flooding and widespread structural damage in cities and towns near where Gustav came ashore on Tuesday.  News reports say Gustav was responsible for as many as 9 deaths in Haiti, however that number may grow.

Major flooding has hit Les Cayes on the island’s southwestern coast and Cite Soleil, an appalling slum area of more than 300,000 people that sits approximately 3 feet below sea level.  Missionaries have reported to Food For The Poor that hundreds of homes were damaged in Jacmel, Miragoane, and Jeremie where Gustav’s 90 miles per hour winds tore roofs off homes and sent debris flying through the air.

“We had pre-positioned emergency relief supplies in preparation for a busy hurricane season but given the widespread damage, we’re going to need more to help storm victims rebuild,” said Food For The Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma. 

Aloma says Food For The Poor has some building materials in Haiti and they will begin making repairs as soon as possible but so far it looks like the damage exceeds what is on hand.  He says donations are needed to purchase lumber, roofing materials, nails, and other building supplies for repairs to the entire southwestern portion of the island. 

“Once the rain stops, we can get a better idea of the extent of the damage,” said Aloma.  “But based on what we’ve seen so far, experience tells me that this is going to end up being very, very bad.” 

To help the victims of Hurricane Gustav, log onto www.FoodForThePoor.org or call
1-800-487-1158.

Food For The Poor is the second largest international relief and development organization in the nation and the # 1 charity in Florida.  With more than 96% of all donations going directly to programs that help those in need, Food For The Poor provides nourishing food, safe shelter, necessary medical care, educational materials, support for orphans and the aged, and much more to the poorest of the poor in 16 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.