GOAL to begin Haiti aid distribution

Aid agency GOAL has confirmed that it will commence a large distribution of food and non food items to the inhabitants of Port-au-Prince this afternoon.

The distribution will take place in the Turgeau region, one of the areas worst hit by the earthquake.

Most of the food has been sourced from the UN, while the non-food items have been trucked down from the GOAL base in the Dominican Republic.

It is also hoped that GOAL will be able to distribute supplies which are en route from Santo Domingo. These goods were sent out by Irish Aid.

“Naturally we are delighted to be up and running and we expect that over the coming days and weeks we will expand our operations significantly," GOAL CEO John O’Shea said.

"But everything here depends on the level of security which the international community intend to provide.

“We welcome the decision of the United Nations last night to deploy an additional 3,500 soldiers/policemen to Haiti – but I want to stress that unless these individuals are on the streets and keeping the peace, the aid effort will be seriously disrupted.”