| Hilary Clinton had been expected in New Zealand on Friday (Jan 15) but postponed her trip following the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
The US secretary of State instead rescheduled her visit to travel with a disaster-response security expert from World Vision, Lon Peterson, U.S. Agency for International Development Director, Rajiv Shah and other humanitarian aid workers on Saturday (Jan 16) as they travelled to Haiti to survey the impact of the disaster and support relief efforts.
Peterson, a security adviser on World Vision’s Global Rapid Response Team was transported to the aid mission in Port-au-Prince by the US State Department as a guest of Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Shah on their official visit.
Peterson will join other rapidly-deployed World Vision disaster response leaders with various areas of expertise who are already on the ground in Haiti supplementing the Christian humanitarian group’s 800 local staff.
"It is essential in these circumstances to help coordinate with the military, international agencies and other humanitarian responders for the smooth and safe delivery of assistance to the people who need it,’’ said Peterson.
New Zealanders are being asked to support World Vision’s relief efforts by lending a hand and making a donation on 0800 80 2000 or pledging $30 through their Telecom account by phoning 0900 4 HOPE. Alternatively contributions can be made online at www.worldvision.org.nz.
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