L American countries show solidarity with Haiti

by Alejandra del Palacio

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Latin American countries on Wednesday expressed solidarity and assured humanitarian assistance for Haiti following Tuesday's magnitude-7.0 earthquake that devastated much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said: "I express my deep sorrow and my full solidarity to the Haitian people."

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet showed her country's solidarity and willingness to support "at the difficult hours that country is living."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said: "We express our sorrow to the glorified Haitian people."

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias was dismayed at the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in the Caribbean island country in more than 200 years.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa regretted the tragedy while expressing his country's solidarity with the Haitian people.

Cuban Leader Raul Castro on Wednesday said that it was with deep sorrow and concern that his country learned of the Haiti earthquake.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon also expressed his country's solidarity with the Haitian people and government. The governments of Bolivia, Colombia and Uruguay have also done the same.

As their messages of solidarity and concern came in, emergency flights taking off from these Latin American countries started to land in Port-au-Prince with drinking water, food, rescuers and doctors with medicine.

Counties elsewhere are also rushing to the rescue with rescuers from China en route to Haiti.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Wednesday estimated that Haiti needs at least 10 million U.S. dollars to assist the victims of the earthquake.

The amount will be used to assist some 5,000 quake-affected families and to support aid operations centered on pitching temporary shelters, repairing water supply facilities and guaranteeing medical assistance.