For many people it is so devastating to hear about the earthquake that hit Haiti and how people there are still in desperate need. In a January 13, 2010 Miami Herald article, the president of Haiti said, "Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed." He said, "There are a lot of schools that have a lot of dead people in them."
The Haitian government was first estimating that up to 100,000 people could be dead after the 7.0 magnitude quake hit on January 12, 2010. But in a January 18, 2010 Miami Herald article, the European Commission said that the latest Haitian government figures have since doubled with an estimated 200,000 people dead and 1.5 million people now homeless.
Donate to Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts Online
For those interested in finding a way to help people in need in Haiti right now, here are links to organizations that are providing emergency aid in Haiti and how you can help them by donating online:
- The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund has been created to provide immediate and long-term help for Haitians who survived the earthquake. Go to www.clintonbushhaitifund.org to donate.
- Doctors Without Borders is providing medical help through three emergency hospitals in Port-au-Prince. To donate to this organization go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
- Direct Relief is providing needed supplies from food to water to Haitian earthquake survivors. Donations can be made at www.directrelief.org.
- UNICEF is helping with water, food and medical supplies as well as focusing on aiding children who survived the Haiti earthquake. Donations can be made at www.unicefusa.org.
- The United Way is an organization that focuses on creating long-term change through education, income and health. It’s also providing staff and aid to help with the immediate situation. To donate go to www.liveunited.org
- The World Food Programme is the largest organziation in the world that is focused on feeding the hungry. It is supplying food and aid to quake survivors in Haiti and donations can be made at www.wfp.org
- Yele Haiti is a foundation created by Grammy-Award winning musician Wyclef Jean to help the people of Haiti. Donations to help with relief efforts for Yele Haiti can be made at www.yele.org.
Donate to Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief by Texting
You can also donate by SMS (Short Message Service) text in the US only at the following organizations:
Donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund by texting the word "QUAKE" to 20222.
Donate $10 to Direct Relief by texting the word "GIVE10" to 20222.
Donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts by texting the word “HAITI” to 90999.
Donate $5 to United Way by texting the word "HAITI" to 864833 (UNITED).
Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts by texting the word “YELE” to 501501.
For more information about why this earthquake caused so much damage and devastation, visit Earthquake Hits Haiti on January12, 2010.
References:
Charles, Jacqueline; Robles, Frances and Yanez, Luisa. Haiti's President Thankful for Incoming Aid. Miami Herald. January 13, 2010.
Daniel, Trenton; Clark, Lesley and Rosenberg, Carol. Leaders Defend the Pace of Aid to Quake Zone. Miami Herald. January 18, 2010.
Tami Nicholson - Tami is the Topic Editor for Parenting Methods at Suite101. She is a mother of two with a background in education and journalism.
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