As you know, a major earthquake (of magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale according to agencies) hit Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, on January 12 in the evening. The epicenter was located at some fifteen kilometers from that city which is the most populated of the country. The earthquake that rocked the island is the strongest in many decades. Fifty to hundred thousand people are feared dead.

The IYCW would like to express its sympathy and solidarity with the Haitian people after this terrible natural tragedy.

Over the past few days, the International and JOCA Secretariats have tried to get in touch with our YCW friends in Haiti but of course communications with the country are extremely difficult.

Several movements expressed their solidarity and support in prayer, and some, together with other organizations, are trying to organize support campaigns.

As an international movement, we would like to express our support to the Haitian people as well as our faith in them. We know the strength they have shown in their struggle, in particular the working class, to overcome natural, political and economic crises and we hope that this disaster they have to go through today will only reinforce the values of struggle which characterize them.

We urge all the members of the movement to send support messages, to be unified with the Haitian people through their prayers and, if possible, to assist in the organization of support campaigns.

The international team of the IYCW will continue to try getting back in touch with our Haitian friends and will let you know if we get any information.

We would like to convey to the Haitian people the positive energy of all young workers around the globe, who are “worth more than all the gold in the world” and show solidarity each day of their lives.

The international team