Oxfam is a leading international aid agency working with communities around the world for solutions to poverty and social injustice.
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Friday January 15, 2010
Oxfam staff member killed in Haiti quake
An Oxfam staff member was killed when part of Oxfam's office crumbled in the
devastating quake that hit Haiti on Tuesday.
Amedee Marescot was a business manager for Oxfam in the country and is survived by
his wife and three children who are based in the United States.
Amedee was Haitian and had worked for Oxfam for 13 years. He was injured when part
of the Oxfam office collapsed and he died later in the hospital.
Penny Lawrence, Oxfams International Director, said:
We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of Amedee and we all send our
sincere condolences to his family. He was a dedicated and passionate member of staff
and will be greatly missed by his colleagues. These are dark days for the people who live
and also work to help the poor communities of Haiti.
The rest of the 100-strong Oxfam team in Haiti are safe. However, many staff have been
severely affected by the earthquake, losing their homes and in some cases members of
their family as the result of the disaster.
Oxfam's 15 emergency specialists in the country are preparing to respond with the
provision of water and sanitation. A six-strong team of Oxfam emergency specialists has
also been dispatched from the UK, USA and Mexico today and the charity is preparing to
send additional emergency supplies to Haiti from Panama and other stores around the
world.
The staff in Haiti are extremely experienced in dealing with emergency situations, and
dealt with the aftermath of the hurricanes that struck Haiti two years ago. Amedee would
have wanted to have seen us keep going and get aid to the survivors. In his memory, we
are doing exactly that, Ms Lawrence said.
For more information please contact: Kate Thwaites on +61 407 515 559
Media Release