Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is accepting donations towards a huge international Caritas effort responding to the devastation of the earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti.

"The Caritas network is launching a major humanitarian response," said Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand director Michael Smith. "A large earthquake has struck a densely populated urban centre in one of the world's poorest countries with limited infrastructure - this is on top of hurricanes that hit the country last year."

"It is a disaster of the century," says a Caritas representative on the ground in Haiti, Karel Zelenka. "We should be prepared for thousands and thousands of dead and injured." A strong Caritas presence already exists in Haiti, through its members Caritas Haiti and US-based Catholic Relief Services (CRS). An international Caritas team sent to Haiti is headed by its Rome-based Humanitarian Director Alistair Dutton.

It will also involve technical experts on logistics, water and sanitation, health, shelter and communications. "Caritas runs over 200 hospitals and medical centres in Haiti. It is experienced and prepared to respond to humanitarian disasters there as a result of the frequent hurricanes," says Mr Dutton. "Caritas staff will be providing support to survivors of the earthquake, such as food, shelter and comfort through churches and parish networks."

New Zealand fundraising efforts will support the coordinated Caritas response in Haiti. Donations can be made by: Phoning 0800 22 10 22 to make credit card donations or Donating online using a credit card at www.caritas.org.nz or Posting to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, New Zealand. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.