The staff of South Africa's national airline, South African Airways (SAA), were donating money, food and clothing to the people of Haiti who lost their family, friends and property in the earthquake which hit their country, said the airline on Friday.

SAA acting chief executive Chris Smythe said SAA employees were asked to make donations in the form of money, blankets or clothing, which would be airlifted along with donated medical supplies to the Caribbean country.

"The staff and leadership of SAA convey to the people of Haiti our thoughts and prayers during these tragic and heartbreaking times," Smythe said in a statement.

"The pictures and images that we have seen of the human tragedy left in the wake of the massive earthquake that struck the island Wednesday have moved us deeply."

Haiti was hit by 7.0-magnitude quake on Tuesday, which has been described as one of the worst in the last 200 years, claiming the lives of at least 100,000 people.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2009)