2010-01-15

Golder Supports Relief Efforts in Haiti

Firm to provide financial assistance as well as on-the-ground technical expertise

JANUARY 15 2010, STOCKHOLM. – Golder Associates Corporation (“Golder”) has responded immediately to the earthquake in Haiti, which shattered the Port-au-Prince area of Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, killing up to tens of thousands of people and putting hundreds of thousands of other lives in jeopardy.

In response to the crisis, two Golder specialists are going to Haiti to support the affected communities through specialist waste expertise in conjunction with Disaster Waste Recovery (“DWR”), a not-for profit organisation founded in 2005 with seed funding from Golder (www.disasterwaste.org). DWR was specifically established to focus on waste and debris management in disasters and works in cooperation with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.

Says Martin Bjerregard, an Associate at Golder and founder of Disaster Waste Recovery (DWR), “In addition to the urgent need to save lives and supply provisions to the survivors, there is an immediate need for demolition and debris expertise, with follow up waste management expertise in the short term. Golder’s extensive experience supporting other disaster relief efforts such as earthquakes in L’Aquila (Italy in April 2009), Pakistan (2006) and Maramara (Turkey in 1999), as well as the 2004 Tsunami allows us to provide much needed technical expertise that will be instrumental in helping the people of Haiti recover from this tragic disaster.”

Golder employees around the world have expressed their interest in contributing to relief efforts. Many of Golder’s regional operations have established programs to match employee donations to the national societies of the International Federation of the Red Cross.

Says Brian Conlin, Golder’s global president, “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and its devastating effects on the Haitian people as well as its effects on Haitians around the world. As a global company committed to supporting and developing our local communities, we hope that by contributing our waste management and disaster relief expertise to the recovery efforts as well as offering our financial support, we can help make a difference to the people of Haiti and their families living abroad.”

For more information contact:
Jan Hermanson
Managing Director
Golder Associates AB
Tel: 08 506 306 38
E-mail: jhermanson@golder.se

Information about the company: Golder Associates AB