The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its member organisations in the Americas are preparing an urgent assistance programme for media workers and journalists affected by the tragic earthquake which this week devastated Latin America's poorest country Haiti.

"The people of Haiti are enduring a nightmare of suffering and grief," said Aidan White IFJ General Secretary. "And among the many victims are media workers and journalists. We will do what we can to help them as a part of the effort to build solidarity with the Haitian people."

The IFJ is using its network of affiliates in Latin America to organise urgent support. The IFJ regional organisation the Federación de Periodistas de América Latina y el Caribe (FEPALC) plans to implement solidarity actions  in the coming days. "There are urgent humanitarian needs, but it is also vital that the communications system, including media is put back together again as quickly as possible," said White. "People need access to useful information to confront this tragedy." 

Communications with much of the country are cut off, but the IFJ affiliate in neighbouring Dominican Republic is  in touch with some colleagues inside Haiti. 

"There is a huge need for mobilization of support in solidarity with the people of Haiti, thousands of whom are in desperate conditions and require the most basic assistance -- food, water and shelter," said Gregorio Salazar, Director of the IFJ Regional Office of Latin America.

The IFJ affiliate in Dominican Republic, the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa (SNTP), is investigating the fate of Haitian colleagues and international correspondents on assignment in the area, but  basic contact is slight given the communications crisis. Olivo De León, General Secretary of the SNTP and member of the IFJ Executive Committee, said that the tragedy has shaken deeply the Dominican people and all Latin America.

"We have been able to establish contact with a wounded colleague, Porina Ozama (from Chanel 11) who is been treated in a hospital. She saw at least two other journalists under the rubbles," said De León, "We know also from the personnel of the Dominican Embassy in Port-au-Prince that there are terrible needs. Although the international help is arriving already, the streets are full of victims and people in despair."

For further information please call IFJ at + 58 212 7931996 and +32 2 235 22 07

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide