People in Northern Ireland are said to have shown their generosity through their response to appeals for help for earthquake ravaged Haiti, but a local expert has branded the lack of preparation an "international disgrace".
As many as 200,000 people are feared dead following Thursday's quake and subsequent aftershocks which rocked the already devastated country.
Now hundreds of thousands of people are in need of humanitarian aid, amid logistical problems which are continuing to hamper the distribution of vital food, water and medical supplies.
Violence and looting are also rampant on the streets and there are concerns about the potential spread of diseases with so many bodies buried in the rubble.
At St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, Dean Houston McKelvey said counting would begin next week after donations poured in from local people as the Black Santa was extended.
"Despite the major initiatives - and it's great to see them - from the United States government, from the British government, from the European community ... additional funds will be needed long-term from non-governmental agencies," Dean McKelvey said.
"We will be supporting Christian Aid and that type of agency who already have teams in the field."
A local expert in geophysics, the University of Ulster's Professor John McCloskey, forecast further massive quakes in the near future and branded the lack of preparation an "international disgrace".
"It was really disturbing to see children lying on the floor in hospitals with no pain relief, without any medical help at all," he said. "How many lives could have been saved if the international community had prepared properly for this event?"
Mr McCloskey added: "The 'international community' is very good at preparing for war but has failed completely to prepare to help the poor who are always the ones to suffer in these events.
"If we want to claim to be civilised, we need to ensure that we never see these scenes again. Let's make our motto: 'We will do better next time'.
"The next time will be sooner than we like to think."
© UTV News