Published: Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 2:18pm

RFA Largs Bay on mission to Haiti

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The RFA Largs Bay has been called out on an emergency mission to earthquake hit Haiti as part of the international humanitarian effort.

The ship, which visited the Largs Viking Festival in 2008, will be carrying aid supplies and is to be sent to Haiti to help with the relief effort.

The navy vessel will spend several weeks ferrying United Nations supplies. The government has already offered £20m to the relief operation, while public donations to a Disasters Emergency Committee fund have been taking place all over the UK including the local area.

Announcing the deployment of Largs Bay, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "This ship will provide a lifeline of essential supplies to sustain the recovery effort over the coming weeks to keep Haiti running."

"The focus until now has rightly been on the immediate task of trying to save lives but we must also plan for the future."

The ship is being sent at the request of the UN, and will be able to ferry supplies for the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the aid effort.

Mr Alexander said: "Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them desperately poor to begin with, have been left with nothing. "It will take many months for them to rebuild their lives and the international community stands ready to help."

Mr Alexander said the Royal Navy's professionalism and capability would "make a real difference".

The RFA Largs Bay visited Largs as part of the Viking Festival festivities as many local groups and some lucky members of the public received the opportunity of a visit onboard during its three day stay in the local coastline.