Search and Rescue teams working with Caritas rescued a woman Tuesday, a week after the earthquake in Haiti.

The Cancun Mexico Rescue Brigade and the South African Relief Team pulled Enu Zizi from the ruins of the Cathedral in Port-au-Prince. The rescue took two hours. She had hurt her hips, was in considerable pain and had a possible broken leg, but was not critically injured.

The first thing she said to the rescuers was “I love you”.

Caritas Austria’s Ruth Schöffl was the first voice she heard. “It was like witnessing a small miracle,” said Ms Schöffl. “After a week of searching we heard this voice. I was able to speak to her, translating for the rescue team.”

The Search and Rescue experts arrived in Port-au-Prince last Thursday in a team organized by Caritas Mexico and Caritas Latin America Regional Coordinator Fr Antonio Sandoval. Their search for more survivors continues today.

South African Relief Team Leader Ahmed Ham said, “The rescue of Zizi has been the best thing in the team we have experienced. It is the first time we have saved somebody´s life after such a long time after the quake. The team has got an energy boost new and we are heading out to do more work as there is still hope.”

Caritas carried out a large scale aid distribution yesterday at Petain Ville club in Port-au-Prince. The seven trucks brought 1000 family food kits in large buckets, packages of water, plastic sheets and non-food items.

Rose St-Preux, 32 years old, was one of the people to receive Caritas aid. She is homeless along with her family after the quake destroyed her house. “It’s very hard”, she says, “We have nothing. We live on what a small shop owner could save from his destroyed shop. This Caritas distribution is the first aid we get”

Further aid is on the way. A Caritas plane has touched in Port-au-Prince Wednesday. Half of it has cargo is heading for Leogane, which received 90 percent damage.

Meanwhile, in one sign of the huge swell of solidarity and support for the Caritas relief efforts, Caritas Democratic Republic of Congo has sent $5000 for the Haiti appeal.

Contact Michelle Hough in Port-au-Prince 00393386921177 or mimi7tre@hotmail.com

For photos of the rescue and distribution contact Patrick Nicholson at Nicholson@caritas.va or 00393343590700