The National Assembly (Parliament) of Nicaragua on Tuesday approved a presidential decree for 70 soldiers to be sent to Haiti for humanitarian missions in quake- ravaged Haiti.

Deputy of the ruling party Gustavo Porras said that opposition refused to hold a meeting of the parliament and they questioned the deployment of the soldiers to Haiti.

However, the presidential decree was approved with 74 votes.

Porras said that President Daniel Ortega decided on Saturday to send 31 more soldiers to join the Nicaraguan Humanitarian Rescue Unit (URH) in Haiti.

Meanwhile, the Nicaraguan Red Cross (CRN) began on Tuesday a solidarity campaign to show their support for the victims of the earthquake that struck a week ago.

The campaign is called "One Week of Solidary Aid for the Victims in Haiti," and will be done together with university students and volunteers, CRN director, Clemente Balmaceda said during a press conference.

The campaign will raise fund, food and blankets for quake survivors.

The CRN said it has received some 12,000 U.S. dollars in cash donations.