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Islamic Relief is sending an emergency response team from the UK and the US to Haiti tomorrow to assess the damage. But at present it appears that the most pressing needs are for food, clean water, medical care and shelter.

The head of Islamic Relief's Humanitarian Department, Moustafa Osman said, "This earthquake is the worst to strike Haiti in 200 years and it appears that three million people have been affected, many of whom have been left homeless and without food or water."

"Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, where endemic poverty, food shortages and conflict are a daily occurrence. The country often struggles with natural disasters such as hurricanes but this earthquake is a disaster of an unprecedented scale and people need urgent assistance if we are to prevent many more lives being lost."

Islamic Relief has already made �250,000 available for the initial response. We will be working through local organisations in Haiti who already have experience of implementing projects in the country. Our partner in the United States, Islamic Relief-USA is also sending $1 million worth of emergency aid to the stricken country in coordination with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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