Customers of Digicel Bermuda have given $17,500 towards the relief of earthquake-stricken Haiti through text-triggered donations.

Since the introduction of a $10 short code to raise money for the Digicel Haiti Relief Fund one week ago, Digicel Bermuda customers have donated over $10,000 to the cause.

That is in addition to funds raised by the $1 short code put in place just after Haiti was ravaged by the earthquake on January 12.

"We are pleased with the response we received from our customers," said Digicel Bermuda CEO Wayne Caines.

"There is, however, still much to be done. I strongly encourage everyone to donate as much as possible. The people of Haiti are in dire need of your help."

Partnering with media sponsors The Royal Gazette, Bermuda Broadcasting Company, Bermuda Sun, Defontes Broadcasting and Inter-Island Communications, Digicel Bermuda is continuing to appeal to the public through a comprehensive print, radio and TV campaign.

"As this is such an important cause," said Shane Mora, marketing director of Digicel Bermuda, "the media have come on board to support this message and let people know how they can help the people of Haiti. We very much appreciate their generosity in these circumstances."

Still aiming to raise $100,000 for Haiti relief, Digicel Bermuda is coordinating a benefit concert for the evening of February 6, details of which will be released shortly.

The local efforts are being combined with fundraising occurring concurrently in all Digicel markets. In total, a sum of $372,000 has been raised and is going directly to the Digicel Haiti Relief Fund, benefiting the non-governmental organizations like Concern and Medecins Sans Frontieres that are diligently working to improve the situation in Haiti.

Digicel has more than two million customers in Haiti. More than 92 percent of the company's cell sites are now fully operational and the company has significantly increased its international circuits to support the major increase in international traffic into and out of the country.