With communications within and from Haiti severely affected by the disaster, no reliable estimates of the death and injury toll are yet available; however, several thousand people are believed to have been killed or injured. Although the ITUC has not yet been able to make contact with its Haitian affiliate the CTH, trade unions from neighbouring Dominican Republic have informed the ITUC that they are preparing to cross into Haiti to join the emergency assistance effort.

“Haiti, already the poorest country in the hemisphere, suffered massive damage from storms last year, and this catastrophe will clearly have severe consequences for Haiti’s future, in addition to the appalling human tragedy caused by the earthquake. A major international effort is urgently needed to deal with the immediate consequences, along with support for building and rebuilding key services and facilities given the widespread destruction of the country’s existing but inadequate infrastructure,” said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates. http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or + 32 476 62 10 18

Photo: American Red Cross