Haiti: How Your Family Can Really Help

Many families woke up to the news that hundreds of thousands of people died in Haiti as a 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed most of Port-au-Prince, the capital city.  Three million people are affected by the earthquake -- a third of the population -- some of whom are trapped under buildings and digging their way out from the rubble. 

We at World Vision have been receiving calls all day from news media and concerned Americans trying to get accurate information from Haiti, which has been colossally challenging. Many callers have indicated they want to start sending supplies such as food and blankets to those who are homeless and grieving from the quake.  While this type of relief is invaluable -- and the impulse noble -- the next 72 hours are “situation critical.” People are horribly hurt, buried, located in an already compromised area, and the roadways are impassable.  Besides, it’s impossible to move debris out of the way without heavy machinery.  (Remember, this is not a small, localized area.)  Also, there is one main airport that has a limited number of runways. If the runways get clogged up by media or a large number of relief supplies, it hurts the people who so desperately need immediate, life-saving help.

As you try to figure out the best way your family can help, allow me to give you the perspective from the ground: the number one thing people need right now is money. Why?  Because relief organizations are making commitments to the people there, which they will immediately start making payments on. Money will help the organization meet their commitments and replenish their funds in order to continue assistance. In a week or so, when we go from rescue from relief, we’ll definitely need supplies. 

At the right time, once we get past the rescue, we’ll create a list of items we need to procure and try to purchase them here in Haiti locally.  This will not only help the victims, it will help their economy revive.  Then, we may have a call-out for items that families can pack and send.  Once we get past the rescue, there will be many ways to go into relief mode, during which time organizations like SixSeeds would be able send care packages based on our Seed Pack-It model. But right now, people who want to help should be thinking about the best way to get people into a safe place.  Prayer and finances are the two best ways to help. 

Earthquakes of this magnitude are particularly harmful in areas that already suffer from poverty. Haiti is the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. Many problems are already endemic to the country, including widespread malnutrition, poor education, and the highest rate of HIV and AIDS in the Americas.  

World Vision has been working to combat the effects of poverty since 1959 through construction projects, emergency Hurricane relief, child sponsorship, community development programs, and construction of more than 20 miles of road. We’ve helped educate in the prevention and controlling of the transmission of HIV, responded to severe flooding with nutritional food kits, clothing, propane burners, and medical supplies. We’ve also drilled wells, repaired water systems, and constructed latrines, supported healthcare clinics across the country and have distributed emergency medical supply kits containing hygienic items and high-calorie food supplements.

In other words, we are here on the ground right now, and are well-situated to help provide rescue and relief to the millions of victims.  Even though we’re ready to provide the much-needed assistance, the difficulty we’re having is getting our supplies from where they are to where they need to be. If your family would like to help, World Vision would  -- of course -- put your support to good use, but so would any of our other friends below. Here are donation pages for:

• WorldVision (or call 888-511-6548)  
• American Jewish World Service
• AmeriCares
• Save the Children
• Hope for Haiti
• Partners in Health

Again, these next 72 hours are very important, so please give wisely and, if I might add, quickly. I don’t think anyone expected this level of devastation.

by STEVE HAAS, with Nancy French