Haiti: How You Can Help
A people whose country was already in a a desperate situation has received an even larger blow. On 12 January 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck about 16 miles from the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. A series of aftershocks, fourteen of them between magnitudes 5.0 and 5.9 then proceeded to add further damage. The International Red Cross estimates that about three million people were affected by the quake and as many as 50,000 people (perhaps many more) were killed.
The earthquake caused massive damage. Hospitals were destroyed or so badly damaged that they have been abandoned. in a city where infrastructure is already minimal, the catastrophe has made providing relief all the more difficult.
Remember, it is the people (not the leaders) of Haiti that need help so desperately. In a place where so many residents already live in deplorable conditions in a land riddled with violence, it is all the more important that they receive the help they need to survive.
Below are several ways you can help the people of Haiti:
Red Cross:
You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti. The donation will be charged to your cellphone bill.
The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities affected by the earthquake and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation. As with most earthquakes, the Red Cross expects to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.
The American Red Cross is accepting donations through its International Response Fund. Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013 or made by phone at 800-REDCROSS or 800-257-7575 (Spanish), or online at www.redcross.org.
Mercy Corp:
You can donate to Mercy Corp. From their website today:
Starting at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, the next $250,000 in donations to our Haiti Earthquake Fund will be matched by a generous donor.
The U.S. State Department Operations Center set up the following number for Americans seeking information about relatives in Haiti: 888-407-4747. The department cautioned that because of heavy volume, some callers may hear a recording.
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