while I understand your wife's emotional desire to send THINGS rather than cash, the reality on the ground is that the Haitian infrastructure, which was already sub-par, has been totally crippled. even if you were able to get some goods over there, there's no reasonable expectation they can be delivered to any specific location in a timely manner.
following is a list that my county Dept of Emergency Services distributed. it represents groups that are already on the ground in Haiti, and that can effectively apply monetary funds to provide relief. (my own personal favorite is Partners In Health at
www.pih.org)
• The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake. They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their
International Response Fund.
• UNICEF has issued a statement that "Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them." UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their
Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.
• Donate through Wyclef Jean's foundation, Yele Haiti. Text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.
• Operation USA is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements, which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles. Donate online at
www.opusa.org, by phone at 1-800-678-7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.
• Ben Stiller's
Stillerstrong campaign will be temporarily diverting all donations to support the Haiti relief effort.
• Partners In Health reports its Port-au-Prince clinical director, Louise Ivers, has appealed for assistance: "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." Donate to their
Haiti earthquake fund.
• Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.
• Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is coordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Their partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children's Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.
• Oxfam is rushing in teams from around the region to respond to the situation to provide clean water, shelter, sanitation and help people recover. Donate to Oxfam America online.
• International Medical Corps is assembling a team of first responders and resources to provide lifesaving medical care and other emergency services to survivors of the earthquake. Donate online.
Source: Huffington Post
Website:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/haiti-earthquake-relief-h_n_421014.html
• Action Against Hunger
• American Red Cross
• American Jewish World Service
• AmeriCares
• Beyond Borders
• CARE
• Catholic Relief Services
• Childcare Worldwide
• Direct Relief International
• Doctors Without Borders
• Feed My Starving Children
• Friends of WFP
• Haitian Health Foundation
• Hope for Haiti
• International Medical Corps
• International Relief Teams
• Medical Teams International
• Meds and Food for Kids
• Mercy Corps
• Operation USA
• Oxfam
• Partners in Health
• Samaritan's Purse
• Save the Children
• UNICEF
• World Concern
• World Vision
• Yele Haiti (Wyclef Jean's grassroots organization; text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 via your cell phone)
Source: MSNBC
Website:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/?ns=world_news-americas
For those interesting in helping immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
Source: DipNote (U.S. Dept. of State Blog)
Author: Cheryl Mills (serves as the Counselor and Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton)
Website:
http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/disaster_haiti
