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Balkenende: terrible tragedy in Haiti

News item | 15-01-2010

Reflecting on the ‘terrible earthquake’ that struck Haiti on 12 January, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende lamented this ‘tragedy of unprecedented scope’. He spoke of the ‘tremendous suffering and massive engagement on a global scale'.

The prime minister expressed his sympathy for the victims and their families following the weekly cabinet meeting.

The Netherlands has donated an initial €3 million in aid. A rescue team of 60 people and sniffer dogs is on its way to the island. 'We hope they can get started right away,' said Mr Balkenende. 'There is a great deal to be done.'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying to stay in contact with Dutch nationals in Haiti. 'We are concerned about a group of nine people who were in one of the hotels that was destroyed.' Their whereabouts are as yet unknown.

Development cooperation minister Bert Koenders will be responsible for contact with Haitians in the Netherlands.