Bulgaria PM Orders Relief Assistance for Quake-Stricken Haiti

Bulgaria will send emergency aid to victims of the Haiti earthquake within days, on the direct order of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has ordered the immediate provision of relief aid to Haiti, according to the Government Information Service.

Bulgaria will join in the international effort to assist victims of the earthquake, it was announced on Friday.

The Ministry of Defense will send nearly half a ton of tents, blankets and bedroom sets from the resources of the Bulgarian Army.

PM Boyko Borisov and Minister of Defense Nikolay Mladenov expressed their special gratitude to the Bulgarian Army for their prompt response, and to the country’s European partners.

According to them, this humanitarian act is proof that, despite the difficult financial situation, the Ministry of Defense is acting appropriately, and in a timely manner to mobilize available resources.

Following an offer made by Sweden, the Bulgarian aid will be transported to Haiti in the coming days, using an aircraft deployed by NATO for strategic airlifts, and released by the Swedes from Hungary's "Papa" Airbase.

Earlier on Friday, Novinite.com had reported that the few Bulgarians in Haiti were safe, and that two of them had written an open letter to the Bulgarian premier, begging for some measure of assistance.

The Bulgarian Red Cross has also opened an appeal for donations to be used in the international relief effort now being mobilized.

Meantime, the BBC has reported from Haiti that here is little sign of aid supplies beyond the airport. Many survivors are spending another day without food and shelter in the ruined capital.

The US Defense Secretary said the Haiti relief effort was the main US priority in the western hemisphere, as an aircraft carrier arrived off the coast.

The UN announced that a total of about USD 270 M in international aid had been pledged so far for the relief effort. It will launch an emergency appeal for USD 550 M later on Friday.

The UN's World Food Program (WFP) has said that in total two million survivors will need food aid, but that it has so far managed to feed just 4 000 people.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!