THE stench of death still lingers over Port-au-Prince, a constant reminder to aid workers like Ian Bray of the devastation the earthquake brought a month ago today.

“When I walk past buildings that have collapsed, I see people holding their hands over their noses because there is still the smell of dead bodies underneath,” said the Oxfam worker, who has been in the city for the past week.

More than 100,000 people died in the quake with 1.5 million left homeless. Mr Bray estimated that the rebuilding operation could take 10 years.

The 56-year-old, from Riverside Road, in West Oxford, has joined 150 Oxfam staff in Haiti and will remain in the devastated country for another three weeks, before returning to the charity’s Cowley office.

Oxfam’s headquarters in Port-au-Prince was virtually destroyed by the quake, and one member of staff was killed.

Mr Bray and his colleagues have now made a school their headquarters as they continue to administer aid.

So far, Oxfam’s programme has helped about 100,000 people get clean water and sanitation facilities and the charity plans to help 500,000 people in the next six months.

Speaking from Port-au-Prince, Mr Bray told the Oxford Mail: “The city looks like an atom bomb has hit it.

“People are living in makeshift shelters on the outskirts.

“I have been working at a camp on a golf course, where 45,000 people are camped out, and the sprinkler system once used for the nine greens is now supplying tap stands.

“I originally trained as an engineer, so I was able to set up a tap stand on the course.”

He said Oxfam had so far raised about £5m towards an aid effort totalling £77m.

He added: “It will take at least three to five years for Haiti to return to anything like normality. But we want to thank people for their support – the response has been overwhelming.

“The British public are breathtakingly generous, and we have been able to reach a lot of people but there is still a lot more to do.”

People across Oxfordshire have raised thousands of pounds, including £9,901 forCAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk