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Residents of Port-au-Prince get fresh drinking water from the THW.

(© THW)

The German Government’s emergency aid for Haiti now totals 15 million euros ($21 million). The Federal Agency for Disaster Relief (THW) is supplying 60,000 people a day with drinking water. The German Red Cross is sending out a mobile hospital in addition to the mobile health clinic already in operation.

German citizens have responded to the earthquake in Haiti with an outpouring of donations totaling nearly 30 million euros so far, according to various media reports. A major fundraising gala organized by Bild newspaper and public television broadcaster ZDF on January 19 brought in more than 17.8 million euros ($25 million) in donations. The gala benefitted the Bild-supported charity Ein Herz für Kinder (a heart for children), which will funnel the money to relief efforts.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who appeared on the televised gala with host Thomas Gottschalk, encouraged viewers to give to the Haiti relief effort.

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Chancellor Merkel is interviewed by host Thomas Gotschalk at the beginning of the televised fundraising gala for Ein Herz für Kinder on January 19.

(© picture-alliance / Eventpress Radke)

Foreign Minister Westerwelle stated his intention to consult closely with Germany’s international partners over the days ahead. The European Union announced on January 18 that it will offer additional funds totaling more than 420 million euros (over $590 million) in aid to Haiti. The funds consist of 122 million euros for urgent humanitarian aid, 107 million euros for immediate reconstruction and a further 200 million euros to be earmarked for medium- and long-term rebuilding. "We have taken swift action," said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton following the announcement.

The direct emergency aid from the German government will be used by relief agencies to supply the Haiti earthquake victims with urgently needed food, medicines, emergency accommodation and clean drinking water. Two drinking water purification units sent by the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) have already arrived in Port-au-Prince. They are intended to supply 60,000 people with clean drinking water.

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German Red Cross (DRK) Dr. Thomas Moch and nurse Sarah Bon treat an eight-year-old girl in the DRK mobile clinic in Port-au-Prince.

(© DRK)

A mobile health clinic run by the German Red Cross began work on January 17. The health clinic is staffed by a team of doctors, nurses and technicians.

The German Red Cross is using the new money to establish a mobile hospital, which left for Haiti on January 21.

Medical care was right now “the top priority," Westerwelle said. The Federal Foreign Office’s Regional Medical Officer is already in Haiti. Additional staff have been sent to the German Embassy in Port-au-Prince, which was working round the clock to find out what had happened to German citizens there, Westerwelle said.