THE Mexican Embassy in Guyana has said that, in response to the Haiti appeal for humanitarian assistance in wake of the recent earthquake devastation, the President of Mexico, Mr. Felipe De Jesus Hinojosa Calderon has announced a donation of US$8M.

In addition, he said his Government has already dispatched ten airplanes and a ship to the island, with food, medicine and relief personnel.

The Georgetown Embassy press release said the Mexican ship, Huasteco was expected to arrive in Haiti yesterday and another vessel, Papaloapan, is due there, soon, with 1,200 tonnes of cargo.

The release said, to date, a total of 208 specialists have been deployed to Haiti and rescue personnel have worked in most of the affected sections of Port-au-Prince and rescued 16 persons.

The release said 10 bodies were recovered and six others located while Mexicans also worked on the rehabilitation of 117 houses and public buildings and provided an ambulance to transport patients.