Scots Aid workers on the ground in Haiti and the region are calling on fellow Scots to donate to the DEC Haiti Appeal to allow them to get more aid to the survivors of the devastating earthquake, which has killed over tens of thousands people and affected three million more.

Despite the challenges, Scots aid workers from DEC member agencies are working round the clock and are getting food, clean water, emergency shelter and medical care to the victims of the disaster.

Generous Scots have already donated almost £2 million to the Appeal, but aid workers say that more money is needed to rebuild lives.

Kenny Rae, an Oxfam aid worker from Edinburgh, who is en route to Port-au-Prince from Santo Domingo in the next-door Dominican Republic, said:

"Oxfam and other DEC agencies are working quickly and efficiently under the very challenging circumstances to get aid to the most vulnerable people in Port-au-Prince. Providing clean water is Oxfam's immediate priority. We have set up four bladder tanks across the city, which hold 10,000 litres of water each. And with the help of the Scottish public, ten tonnes of Oxfam water, sanitation, health and shelter equipment has arrived from the UK, including chlorine for drinking water treatment, buckets, plastic sheeting and, tragically, more body bags.

"But the needs in Haiti are huge and they don't just include initial emergency supplies. The Scots have already been generous. But more money is needed and I'd encourage those who haven't donated to do what they can to help us save lives and get people back on their feet."

David Stevens, who lived in Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders for 25 years, is a volunteer with the British Red Cross's Logistics Emergency Response Unit. He is based at Santo Domingo airport, receiving the aid that is arriving from the UK and getting it into Haiti to desperate survivors.

67-year-old David said:

"My role is to work efficiently to get the things to people that they need to survive. It's very distressing, no doubt about it, but as long as I have the health, energy and purpose to do something worthwhile, I will. And everybody has the capacity to make a difference - especially people back in Scotland who can donate to the DEC Appeal. Even if it's just a pound it will help a family who has lost everything."

Judith Turbyne, Head of the Caribbean for Christian Aid, is overseeing their response to the earthquake in Haiti. Judith, from Dundee, said:

"This is a tragedy on a scale that I have never seen in the many years that I have worked in the aftermath of disasters in Latin America. The people of Haiti need our support now, and in the long term. We need to make this a turning point for Haiti.

"I appreciate that it is difficult in Scotland just now with the recession and that people haven't got much money. But the support, understanding and care from those not directly touched by the pain of the disaster are of great importance to the people of Haiti. So please be someone who responds, who says 'this is not right, this can't carry on'."

Work already underway by DEC members and their partners includes:

British Red Cross:

On Friday, two planes laden with 22 tons of aid arrived in Haiti, and is currently being distributed. Red Cross aid trucks, carrying life saving relief items and over 40 specialist staff, also arrived in Haiti early Saturday evening. Equipment includes rapid health response unit including a 50-bed field hospital, and medical aid, IT and telecoms equipment, ERU equipment and facilities for providing clean water.

The British RC Logistics Emergency Response Unit have arrived in Santo Domingo and they are dealing with the reception and forwarding to Haiti of all humanitarian aid supplies arriving into Santo Domingo.

Oxfam:

Since Sunday, Oxfam had installed four water tanks capable of holding 10,000 litres of water each, including one at Delmas 42 - a former golf course now home to about 15,000 displaced people which surges to 50,000 at night, and at a hospital in Carrefour, one of the worst hit areas.

Ten tonnes of Oxfam water, sanitation, health and shelter equipment has arrived in Santo Domingo and is en route to Port-au-Prince due to arrive there today (Monday) afternoon. This includes chlorine for drinking water treatment, buckets, plastic sheeting and body bags.

A plane will depart East Midlands airport tomorrow (Tuesday) with 30 tonnes of water and sanitation equipment and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter. Another is expected on Friday.

Seventeen Oxfam humanitarian experts have also been drafted in to help co-ordinate the aid's distribution and make sure it gets as quickly as possible to those who need it most.

Christian Aid:

Christian Aid is working with long-standing partners in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to co-ordinate the aid effort including the distribution of food, tents for shelter, jerrycans for storing water, blankets, fuel, hygiene kits and providing medical assistance in Carrefour, Leogane, Petit Guave, Miragoane, Plaine du Cul de Sac Delmas.

Concern:

Concern has carried out distributions of critical medical supplies, high energy food and water to the State University Hospital and distributions of pick axes (to clear rubble), surgical gloves, disinfectant, water purification tablets, water and first aid supplies to community leaders in two of their project areas. There are three relief charters carrying more supplies on the way.

What your donation can buy:

* £25 will supply a kit of household essentials.

* £50 buys a food pack to feed a family for a fortnight.

* £100 provides temporary shelter for two families.

To make a donation to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900, or text "GIVE" to 70077 (donates £5 to the DEC for Haiti (UK only)), donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque made payable to 'DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal' to 'PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA'.

Anyone who wants to stay up to date with developments in Haiti, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts can follow the DEC on twitter at http://twitter.com/decappeal or become a fan of Disasters Emergency Committee on Facebook.