TEAR Fund has launched a full-scale coordinated relief effort yesterday through its in-country and external network of partners.

"We are rushing medical supplies and medical personnel to our in-country partners through our Integral Alliance partners, a 15-member group of relief agencies who work together to respond to disasters. We will also provide emergency food, clean water, and shelter," said TEAR Fund acting executive director, Jon Horne.

"We do have a number of staff on the ground but communication is extremely difficult. The lack of communication has also meant that more than 680 Kiwi child sponsors are anxiously awaiting news about their sponsor children," he said. "We will let them know as soon as possible."

Edouard Lassegue, Haiti country director for TEAR Fund's child sponsorship partner, Compassion International, was hoping to arrive in the country today. He said he hadn't heard from staff on the ground, except for a text just before communications went down. He said the situation in Haiti was grave and the uninjured people were wondering around in disbelief.