Prior to Jan 12, 2010 most of society would have been hard pressed to locate Haiti on a map of the Western Hemisphere. Fortunately, media coverage of the recent disaster has focused the eyes of the world on this tiny Caribbean nation.
Located just 750 miles southeast of Florida and approximately 100 miles ********************************* east of Jamaica, Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic.
Haiti has a land mass of 10,714 sq. miles, almost identical in land mass to the state of Massachusetts. Haiti, an Indian word meaning "mountains," is made up of extremely mountainous country of which only 20 percent of the territory lies below 600 feet. The highest mountain, (Chain de la Sel) is almost 9,000 feet above sea level.
The climate is tropical with average temperatures ranging from 75 degrees in January to mid-90's in July. There are two distinct rainy seasons. The first runs from April to June and the second between October and November. Like in all Caribbean countries, hurricanes are common.
And on the 32d day, Haiti rested. One long, arduous month after the earthquake, the Haitian government imposed a national day of mourning on this battered country, which has been too preoccupied with survival to stop and take stock of the tremendous loss of life. Approximately 217,000 casualties.
• Rescue efforts in Haiti convey responsibility, love
The last 30 days since the devastating earthquake in Haiti have not only witnessed the suffering and fortitude of the Haitian people, but also the borderless love of the international community.
Most of the water in Haiti is also polluted. This includes parts of the coastal areas, such as the Bay of Port-au-Prince, and most of the major ports and some coastal towns. The water throughout the country is nonpotable.
HOw to HELP: Relief and Development Organizations
Partners in Health, Boston-based non-profit that has worked in Haiti for 23 years and is treating the wounded at several facilities. PIH is seeking donations and other support.
Oxfam America, which is based in Boston, has created an emergency relief fund. Oxfam has a staff of more than 200 people in Haiti, the Boston headquarters notes, and 15 disaster specialists who are already at work organizing relief. You can make a $10 donation to Oxfam's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund by texting OXFAM to 25383.
Grassroots International is a Boston-based development group that has worked in Haiti for 20 years, and has set up a Haiti emergency relief fund.
United Way of Massachusetts has committed $40,000 for aid to Haiti and for helping local Haitians in Boston. The United Way also has set up a tool on its web site to make donations easily. The aid will also support the Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester, which assists Haitian newcomers and immigrants.
The Boston Foundation has created a Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund that will look toward longer-term relief and rebuilding. Donations are being matched dollar for dollar by Jim and Karen Ansara.
Church World Services is the national umbrella relief organization for 17 Protestant and Orthodox denominations, and its New England director, the Rev. Bert Marshall, has been active in Haiti for many years.CWS is coordinating donations and relief work on behalf of many churches. Donation link here.
The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, is responding to the disaster with an initial $500,000 donation and support in the field. UNICEF has worked in Haiti since the 1940s.
Information about donations is available at the US Fund for UNICEF and the Boston office is reachable at 617.266.7534.
A group called Partners in Development, based in Ipswich, Mass., has a medical clinic in Port-au-Prince and is organizing to send a medical team there. Phone: 978-471-9922.
Catholic Charities is also at work organizing relief, raising funds, and accepting donations.
Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley has authorized a second collection in the parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston. Parishes may choose either this coming weekend, Jan. 16 and 17, or the weekend of Jan. 30 and 31 to take the collection. Funds collected will be sent to Catholic Relief Services to assist in relief efforts in Haiti.
Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the umbrella group for Boston-area Jewish philanthropy founded in 1895, has set up a Haiti quake relief fund to support Boston-based Partners in Health as well as the broader national Jewish effort through The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, a human rights group based in Cambridge, has launched an earthquake relief fund.
AmeriCares, a disaster response organization based in Stamford, Ct., has high ratings for its efficient use of donor resources. It has set up an emergency earthquake fund, pledging $5 million for victims.
Doctors Without Borders is a highly regarded humanitarian service that responds quickly to disasters around the Globe. MSF, as it it known by its French acronym, already had medical teams on the ground in Haiti and they are treating hundreds of victims.
The Wayland-based organization, Bread of Compassion, says it had long ago planned a medical mission to Haiti on March 1, and now is stepping up preparations and seeking contributions for the trip by 20 medical professionals to bring more medical supplies on the journey.
Local Haitian organizations
The Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester is part of Catholic Charities and has been serving Haitian immigrants in Boston since 1984.
The Center for Community Health, Education and Research has compiled a useful list of Haitian organizations in Greater Boston.
The Association of Haitian Women in Boston works to empower low-income women in Haiti.
The St. Boniface Foundation, based in Randolph, runs a hospital in Fond des Blancs, about 70 miles west of Port au Prince.
Also in Fond des Blancs, Haiti Projects Inc, run by Sarah Hackett, a nurse from Gloucester, offers family planning and other services in these remote mountains.
Local Media
The Boston Haitian Reporter has an impressive live blog on developments in Haiti and updates on available resources.
Jean Filias hosts a Haitian radio program on Radio Energy (1620AM) in Dorchester.
The Boston Haitian Reporter also has a list of Haitian community resources and organizations.
Haitian Embassy in Washington, hotline: 202-332-4090.
The US State Department hotline in Washington for information about relatives in Haiti is 1-888-407-4747.
Sen. Paul G. Kirk's Boston office says it will try to connect people with relatives in Haiti. Call 617-565-3170.
National Resources
The Center for International Disaster Information has created a website with links to organizations that are accepting donations and other resources related to the earthquake.
The CIDI, funded by the US Agency for International Development, has guidelines on how to contribute appropriately to disaster relief. The key point is that the best contribution is money, not clothes and food, because money can be directed more quickly and efficiently to meet the needs of victims.
The United Nations World Food Program is quickly mobilizing aid resources for victims, and is accepting donations.
Action Against Hunger has hundreds of staff members in Haiti and has deployed emergency teams to assist victims.
The Episcopal Church is collecting donations and organizing relief, through its relief agency Episcopal Relief and Development.
The Salvation Army has worked in Haiti since 1950 and is organizing immediate assistance. The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations to assist in the effort via, www.salvationarmyusa.org, 1-800-SAL-ARMY and postal mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728. Donors can also text the word “HAITI” to 52000 to automatically give $10 to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts.
The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747.
Red Cross: 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.
Reuters Haiti help page
Haitian Education & Leadership Program
International Committee of the Red Cross
Direct Relief International is a non-profit based in California that has a range of health partners in Haiti and has pledged a $1 million emergency donation.
Mobile Giving
A number of organizations are accepting donations through mobile phone text messaging. Here's an update from the Mobile Giving Foundation, which works with a number of non-profits.
The quickest way to provide monetary relief to those affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti is mobile giving. By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid the millions of people affected by this tragedy. 100 percent of your donation goes to the recipient charity, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill. Standard rates may apply.
Text the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5
On behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean
Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $5
On behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International
Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5
On behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee
Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10
On behalf of the Red Cross in the US
Text the word “Haiti” to 45678 (In Canada Only)
On behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada
