Women in Port-au-Prince react in disbelief as they learn that a loved one is missing. Picture: AP Photo/Carl Juste

THE Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has donated £100,000 towards life-saving emergency aid for the people of Haiti following Tuesday’s earthquake.

An emergency meeting of the commission decided this week that the £100,000 will be distributed between Unicef and the British Red Cross, both of whom have bases in Panama.

The grant is in addition to another sum of £110,000 which the commission gave earlier this year to Habitat for Humanity, for projects involving disaster preparation and economic recovery. The charity has been established in Haiti for 26 years.

Following the launch of the British Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal, the charity’s local committee are collecting in town today. Committee chairman Andrew Baudains said that all money will be used to provide shelter kits, water sanitisation, food, blankets and other supplies.

To donate to the appeal, cheques made payable to British Red Cross can be sent to treasurer Jane Clarke, British Red Cross Jersey Committee, PO Box 196, Jersey, JE4 9RX.

Jersey Christian Aid are also co-ordinating a local response to the crisis as part of a national appeal. Cheques made payable to the Christian Aid Haiti Appeal should be sent to the treasurer the Rev Martin Dryden, Mont Ubé House, Rue de la Blinerie, St Clement, JE2 6QT.