Media advisory
Further information: Louise Fitzsimons, WSPA Australia Communications Manager
Phone: (02) 9902 8013 / 0414 775 275 Email: louisefitzsimons@wspa.org.au
WSPA Australia Ltd, Suite 1, 2 Northcote Street, St Leonards, NSW (www.wspa.org.au)
ABN 19 083 297 027
Haiti government requests WSPA’s aid:
ARCH team prepares for departure
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has received an official
communication from the Government of Haiti, requesting our immediate assistance and
asking that WSPA staff be deployed to help with the emergency relief operation ‘as soon as
possible’.
The Director of Inspection and Vigilance for the Environment, Environmental Department of
the Government of Haiti has written to WSPA stating: “After the information exchanges that
we have been keeping and given the magnitude of the disaster suffered by Haiti, putting the
country under great risk of infecto-contagious diseases spread and possible animal epidemic
outbreaks; … both the Agriculture Department and the Environmental Department… have
agreed that WSPA aid is very important… (and) suggest that WSPA should organise a trip to
Haiti as soon as possible.”
Gerardo Huertas, Director of Disaster Management for the Americas, WSPA says, “Over
the last few days, WSPA’s team of highly trained emergency relief staff have been preparing
for just such an opportunity. We have put together the equipment and medicines that we
expect will be needed in Haiti and are flying in to Santo Domingo today, in order to proceed
into Port au Prince at the earliest possible opportunity. This official request from the Haitians
makes me even more confident that we, and our colleagues joining the coordinated ARCH
effort, will be in Haiti very shortly and will be able to complete a first-hand assessment of the
situation on the ground.”
The joint ARCH team is expected to be on the ground in Haiti on Saturday 23rd of
January, and will be able to release information and images soon after.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal
Welfare (IFAW) have come together to form the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) and
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89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP United Kingdom Phone +44 (0)20 7587 5000
Registered UK charity 1081849
are coordinating ARCH efforts so that all animal welfare organizations involved in response
efforts in Haiti can work together and make sure emergency aid reaches as many animals,
and in as short a time, as possible.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the world’s largest alliance of
animal welfare organisations. We partner with our member societies to develop animal welfare
campaigns and projects, education initiatives and respond to animals affected by disasters,
such as the Haiti earthquake.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Namrata Chowdhary, International Head of Media, WSPA: +44 20 7587 5002 (in GMT
timezone)
Louise Fitzsimons, Communications Manager, WSPA Australia: 9902 8013 / 0414
775275 / louisefitzsimons@wspa.org.au
NEWS 
