Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle spoke on the telephone this morning (13 January) with the German Ambassador in Port-au-Prince and asked him to describe the situation on the ground following the earthquake.

After the telephone call, the Federal Foreign Minister issued the following statement:

“I’m shocked at the scale of the disaster, which is now becoming apparent. We offer our sympathy and solidarity to the victims of the earthquake and their families. The German Government will provide the Republic of Haiti with all the assistance it can.”

The Minister has instructed that a crisis task force be set up without delay. Together with the competent authorities, the crisis task force will investigate immediately whether Germans have been affected by the earthquake and what can be done to provide help in the region hit by the disaster.