The Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) wishes to remind the public that Jamaica is the Sub-Regional focal point for the coordination of the regional response to the CARICOM Haiti operations. The Office of the Prime Minister has mandated the ODPEM to be the central coordinating agency in Jamaica for all disaster relief supplies including donations (cash/kind) for the Help Haiti initiative.

We are asking all agencies and persons collecting donations to send items to the ODPEM at our new location 2-4 Haining Road, Kingston 5. Arrangements have been made for these to be sorted, packed and transported to Haiti.

Priority needs for Help Haiti at this time include:
• Bottled Water
• Non-Perishable Food Items
• Tents
• Medical Supplies

Cash donations can be made to any branch at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) account number- 21-2387304.

ODPEM is also advising persons to be aware of possible scams that may be perpetrated in the name of the Help Haiti relief efforts.

“Help Haiti” is being coordinated by the ODPEM as a response to the devastating effect of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.

Contact: Kimberley Weller, Information Officer kweller@odpem.org.jm