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MSC Foundation, Miami-Dade County provide emergency relief supplies to Haiti

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From left, PortMiami CEO/Director Juan Kuryla; Food For The Poor EVP/COO Mark Khouri, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava; Alessio Lombardi, trade manager, Central America & Caribbean, Mediterranean Shipping Co.; and Elizabeth Owens, chief of staff for Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime with a donated container
The MSC Foundation and Food For The Poor partnered with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime to coordinate humanitarian assistance for Haiti.

This is in response to the ongoing crisis in the Caribbean's third largest country. 

20 shipping containers donated

The MSC Foundation is donating 20 shipping containers to earthquake victims for immediate use as temporary shelter and the storage of provisions. In addition, MSC Group will be supporting MSC Foundation through its cargo business, Mediterranean Shipping Co., to coordinate further shipments of relief goods from PortMiami.

MSC Group has been closely tied to the region for decades. Through cargo operations and MSC Cruises' investments, the group has a strong presence in Florida and served as a key player in the Haiti's economic development.

'Working together ... like one big family'

'This prompt initiative of the Miami-Dade County mayor with Food For The Poor to coordinate humanitarian assistance and emergency aid for the people of Haiti shows how great challenges can be overcome by a combined response, working together with dynamism and passion like one big family,' said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, MSC Cruises and MSC Foundation chair.

Earthquake, pandemic, political instability

'The Haitian people are not only hurting from the aftermath of the earthquake earlier this year but also continue to suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability,' Mayor Levine Cava said. 'We are extremely grateful for MSC Foundation’s partnership and commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people during this difficult time.'

'We are so grateful to Miami-Dade County and PortMiami for donating their time to sort and pack these lifesaving goods,' Food For The Poor President/CEO Ed Raine said. 'We especially want to thank MSC Foundation for their generous gift of the containers and getting these critically needed relief items to Haiti. This will be a blessing to countless lives.'

Other good works

Since its launch in 2019, the MSC Foundation has contributed to immediate and longer-term relief and recovery efforts across the world in collaboration with the MSC Group. Examples of previous projects include delivering healthcare services and education supplies in five remote communities in Haiti, providing hurricane disaster relief and supporting the recovery of damaged facilities in the Bahamas, facilitating access to personal protective equipment in the most COVID-19-affected countries and shipping essential goods to communities impacted by the volcanic eruption in St. Vincent.