Family in regular contact with Haiti relief worker

THE family of Nellie Kingston, who is helping with the relief work in hurricane-ravaged Haiti, have said they are in regular contact with her.

Inchydoney native Nellie is heading up the Concern aid team and co-ordinating the charity’s relief efforts since the Hurricane struck, leaving over 1,000 dead and many more homeless, last week.

Nellie’s husband, Eric Dineen, told The Southern Star that he spoke to Nellie on Tuesday night and said she is doing great, but that the conditions are very tough.

‘We spoke on Skype and she said the Concern team are very busy trying to co-ordinate aid and assess the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew,’ said Eric.

‘Nellie actually went out there in early September to help with the rebuilding programme following the devastating earthquake in 2010, and then they got hit with this hurricane. It has wiped out some of the good work they have done,’ he added.

It’s a job that Eric and their two teenage children, Aisling and Conor, are well accustomed to, as Nellie has been doing this type of work for years and, as a Concern worker, Eric explained ‘she goes to places where she is needed’.

‘Naturally we were concerned about her when news of Hurricane Matthew reached us,’ he continued, ‘but she phoned us and told us she was fine and in good shape, despite the destruction caused by the hurricane.’

Concern Worldwide has launched an urgent appeal and would like people to donate what they can online at www.concern.net/donate/appeals/haiti-hurricane-appeal.