The centre of the quake, near to the capital of Port au Prince, reduced buildings to rubble. Some estimates say 200,000 people have died. Thousands more are destitute.

Onchan Rotary Club is appealing to Islanders to help it to provide clean drinking water for the victims by distributing plastic tans with water purification tablets known as Aquaboxes to the region.

Nigel Dobson, of the club, said: 'A similar appeal by the Rotary Club after the Boxing Day Tsunami raised £28,000, which was enough to supply the equivalent of 15m litres of water, so it is a very efficient scheme.

'About 90 per cent of deaths after an event like this are due to dirty water.'

The club's president, Stewart Clague, added: 'Within a week, clean water can be delivered to Haiti from the Isle of Man through Rotary International and with no administrative costs, no transport costs, every penny produces water.'

Mr Dobson can be contacted by telephone on 200515. Donations by cheque should be made payable to the Rotary Club of Onchan and sent to the Liverpool Arms, Baldrine, IM4 6AE.

Alternatively donations can be left at any of the Manx National Heritage catering sites at Niarbyl, the Sound or the Bay Room at the Manx Museum, or passed on to any Onchan Rotary Club member.

On Friday, January 22, and Saturday, January 23, the Island will have a two-day street collection to raise money.

Donations by cheque should be made payable to the DEC Haiti Earthquake and sent to the One World Centre, Derby House, Parliament Square, Castletown.

The energetic are also being asked to get together to walk a combined total of 1,100 miles — the equivalent of Haiti's coastline.

Port Erin writer Rachel Blackwell, who came up with the idea, said: 'It does not have to be walking, some people may like to run or swim and one of the play groups has suggested their children can toddle a short distance. Manx Harriers are looking at covering about 250 miles between them,' she said. 'There is no set date.'

All money raised will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee. To find out more email Rachel on 1100milerun@googlemail.com or telephone her on 455392.

'If people contact me I can advise them, let them have sponsor forms and tell them where to send the money. Hopefully it will be a big event,' she said.

The Island's Overseas Aid Committee has already responded to an urgent appeal from the Disasters Emergency Committee by donating £60,000 to the appeal.

George Waft MLC, chairman of the Overseas Aid Committee, said: 'The committee is glad to be able to support the work of the DEC in providing the earthquake survivors with all the humanitarian assistance that they so desperately need.'