It will be some time before anyone knows the extent of the devastation in Haiti from yesterday's earthquake. The prediction right now is that there will be thousands of deaths.
It is clear that a lot of help will be needed in this island nation in the Caribbean, which has long been impoverished. If you are wondering how to help and able to do so, please take a look at this blog listing 6 easy and direct ways to send your help to Haiti right now. The author suggests the following organizations, and you can read further details through the link:
1) Text "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to the Red Cross
2) Text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti
3) Donate to Partners in Health
4) Donate to Architecture for Humanity
5) Donate to charity:water
Some of these organizations were familiar to me, and others I am glad to learn about.
And don't forget
6 ) Donate to Doctors without Borders/Medecins sans Frontieres
I am particularly inspired by Partners in Health, run by Paul Farmer, which provides culturally sensitive, empowering, direct and truly effective healthcare to people in Haiti and other countries.
L'Union Fait La Force
Strength Through Unity
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Kim Gamble
kmbearden
Spectrum Voice
Susie Lindau
Lauren B. Davis
racheld
Salon.com
Comments
There's a link to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund on that page, they are supposed to be one of the better aid groups (not corrupt, etc.).
"The facilities they are running are largely okay as is the staff. PIH is in a good position to help provide medical assistance to all those in need - as well as general relief assistance even though that is not usually their role - because they are on the ground, up and running, and fully staffed by people speaking Creole. The staff in Boston and in Haiti will be working all through the night to establish the right assistance. Many of the other NGOs operate out of offices in the capital city of Port Au Prince where the majority of the damage has occurred and will be hampered in their ability to respond. Planes with additional supplies and people are being organized by PIH and will begin arriving as early as tomorrow morning although reports of the airport being damage have been circulating. Supplies would then be transported via helicopter through the Dominican Republic and other closer locations."
She also forwarded an urgent email from Louise Ivers, the clinical director of PIH in Haiti: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS... Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us."