Haiti Earthquake Devastation raises Global Humanitarian Efforts
Haiti is in a state of shock and devastation after witnessing the leveling effects of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday. Electricity is out and phone lines are down. Search and rescue teams scour the area hoping to find survivors amongst the wreckage. An official fatality count has not yet been released though the number is estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
"There were eight aftershocks last night. Everyone was sleeping in the streets. The whole city is affected. It is just morning here now, and I can hear helicopters working on the search and rescue. The immediate need is to rescue people trapped in the rubble, then to get people food and water. We're particularly worried about the children, because so many schools seem to have collapsed. Children were still in school in the afternoon when the earthquake hit, so there are many children trapped. It's horrifying,” Sophie Perez, CARE's country director in Haiti reported.
CARE is one of the world's largest humanitarian aid agencies and is coordinating with other U.N. agencies to assess the damage and on-the-ground needs. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. Hit by what is being described as the deadliest earthquake to flatten the region in 200 years; Haiti was struggling to recover from a severe hurricane season in 2008.
"While relief efforts have begun, communications are extremely difficult and accurate information is still scarce," UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said in a statement this morning. "It is clear that the consequences are severe and many children are among the victims," she said. "Our hearts go out to the families whose lives have been so terribly impacted by this tragedy."
The global relief effort has been immediate. American Red Cross has an online donation site where you can choose to select the International Response Fund. Humanitarian efforts have focused on delivering food, hygiene kits, water, and emergency health services.
International relief organization, Oxfam launched an appeal to raise funds in response to the tragic earthquake. Glastonbury Festival organizer Emily Eavis joined forces with the charity in their appeal for Haiti.
Coldplay have pledged their support. Frontman Chris Martin, who traveled to Haiti with the organization in 2002, released a statement requesting public donations.
“It’s a country of extreme poverty and brutal living conditions. Most people in Port-au-Prince live in tin shacks. The earthquake that has struck Haiti will have turned the city into an unimaginable hell. The people of Haiti will be desperate for help and assistance.”
Music For Relief, an artist and music industry outreach is encouraging the community by reaching out via Facebook and Twitter pages, as are Linkin Park and 30 Seconds to Mars.
Wyclef Jean took to his blog to say, “I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.
President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”
The following information is being provided to help assist with the relief efforts:
www.supportunicef.org
www.care.org or call +1.800.521.CARE or +1.800.521.2273.
www.oxfam.org
www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
www.yele.org/
Text “RELIEF” to 90999 a direct $5 donation will be made
Text "HAITI" to 20222 to donate $10 to U.N. relief efforts