A group of Nigerians in the U.S. has launched an appeal to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.The group, under the aegis of Nigeria Global Diaspora Committee (NGDC), is rallying support from various Nigerian organisations across the globe to assist victims of the quake.

The Convener of the group, Ms Jumoke Akin-Taylor, told Newsmen that the appeal for the relief effort had received pledges from Nigerians.

She said the money realised would be made available to some Haiti Diaspora organisations or a relief organisation working in Haiti or through the Red Cross.

She said the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) has been designated as the receiving organisation for the effort on behalf of the NGDC.

Akin-Taylor said the organisation would assist Nigerians in the U.S. willing to go to Haiti for on-the-ground relief work. “But they must be prepared to pay their way to go to Haiti,’’ she said.

“While we acknowledge the option for individual Nigerians to send money to various organisations, such as the Red Cross, we believe that the special historical relationship between Haiti and Nigeria makes it incumbent on both the Nigerian government and Nigerians in the Diaspora to do something,” she added.

The UN on Friday launched a 550 million dollar emergency appeal for Haiti.
UN officials say so far 310 million dollars in international aid has been pledged for the relief effort.
The Red Cross estimates that at least 50,000 people have died from the disaster, which destroyed about 50 per cent of the buildings in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.