LONDON: British building companies are preparing to send construction workers to Haiti to help with the relief effort as the need for temporary shelter and functioning infrastructure grows.

John Denning, communications director at Carillion, said: "As an industry we are able to offer something very direct to help these countries which have often experienced widespread destruction to infrastructure and housing."

Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Carillion joined other construction companies in posting skilled workers to the worst effected parts of the region to help with both the immediate building of shelters and essential infrastructure and to assist in planning the long-term reconstruction process.

The Home Builders Federation called on its members to donate to Habitat for Humanity, a charity specialising in building shelters and reconstruction assistance.

Stewart Baseley, HBF chairman said: "It only seems appropriate that our industry should support a charity that specialises in shelter provision, housing repair and reconstruction."