Salvation Army prepares one million meals for Haiti earthquake survivors

Hundreds of Salvation Army volunteers in the US have spent the last few days preparing and packing one million ready-to-eat meals to send to survivors of the Haiti earthquake.

They are in addition to 250,000 meals are already awaiting shipment from Des Moines, Iowa.

The meals, courtesy of food group Numana Inc, consist of rice, soy protein, freeze-dried vegetables and vitamins that can be cooked in boiling water.

The Salvation Army said it was liaising with other agencies to bring the food to the people in need.

“We saw a devastating earthquake strike Haiti this week,” said Lt Col Dan Starrett, Executive Director of The Salvation Army World Services Office. “Now, donor generosity is striking back.”

A Salvation Army assessment team has arrived in Haiti and will liaise with Salvation Army staff already working in the capital of Port-au-Prince, where The Salvation Army has served since 1950.

The Salvation Army UK has made an initial donation of £50,000 to support emergency and reconstruction work, and is appealing to people to donate.

It said considerable damage had been done to Salvation Army property in the city, including a children’s home, clinic and church building.

Tens of thousands of people are believed to have died in Tuesday’s earthquake, but with many still trapped under the rubble, the exact toll still remains unclear. Those killed are believed to include the Catholic Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Joseph Serge Miot, and the head of the UN's mission in Haiti, Hedi Annabi.

Mission Aviation Fellowship said one of its indigenous employees was feared dead and two others were missing, but none of its missionary staff were injured. The ministry is withdrawing all its non-essential staff and dependents from Haiti, while a team of key staff members, including ministry directors, will remain to assess needs and coordinate relief efforts.

"We are grateful to God for his protection of our missionary staff," said John Boyd, MAF president. "We do not yet know the exact status of all of our Haitian staff members, and ask for your prayers for them and for all the people of Haiti during this time of great sorrow."