Digicel Group has pledged to donate $5 million in cash to support the urgent relief efforts needed following the widespread devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday.

The mobile phone company, which has operations in the Caribbean and Central America as well as Bermuda, will give funds to the non-governmental organisations who are spearheading the relief work.

With the impact of the earthquake resulting in considerable casualties and catastrophic damage to homes, buildings and infrastructure, Digicel has called on people and governments across the world to support Haiti's population.

Digicel also sent a team to Haiti early yesterday to help with the relief efforts and to assess the impact on its communications infrastructure which incurred damage but is operational.

Digicel is one of the largest companies in Haiti, having launched its mobile services there in 2006, as well as the largest foreign direct investor in Haiti, with more than two million customers.

Colm Delves, group CEO of Digicel, said: "We are deeply upset and concerned at the news of the earthquake in Haiti and want to do whatever we can to support the desperately needed relief efforts. We hope that governments around the world will also support the people of Haiti and immediately provide much needed aid to assist with the huge recovery efforts that are now needed.

"The people of Haiti welcomed us and made us their own when we launched there in 2006 and we are determined to be there for them in their time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and we would like to assure them that Digicel stands ready to assist in whatever way we can at this difficult time."