The Hellenic Rescue Team, a well-known Thessaloniki-Greece based NGO, took off for Haiti last Thursday 21st January 2010 (click here to play video footage). Mrs. Elena Ambrosiadou, in her efforts to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake, identified this world famous expert rescue team, which has saved many lives after earthquakes in Turkey, Armenia and Egypt, in her hometown of Thessaloniki. Mrs. Ambrosiadou, who contributes not only financially but also by active personal involvement with the organisation, has travelled to Africa with ARK, and in June 2008 was awarded the Red Cross Humanitarian Award.

Carmen Michalska, an assistant to Mrs. Ambrosiadou, volunteered enthusiastically to travel to Haiti to assist the Hellenic Rescue Team. Ms Michalska played a vital role in the rescue of Mr Exantus who was trapped under a 20ft heap of tangled concrete slabs for 11 days. Ms Michalska and the Hellenic team are continuing their work in Haiti by building an orphanage which was their original objective. Click here to listen to an exclusive interview that Ms Michalska gave to the Guardian.

IKOS has set up a bank account to accept donations to further support the Hellenic Rescue Team, and in particular to purchase Shelterboxes. These boxes cost £490 UK sterling each and provide accommodation for 10 people for up to 6 months and include sleeping arrangements, a stove capable of burning multiple fuels and vital water treatment materials. Please help us to help those who so desperately need it.