A 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti on Saturday. The death toll on Wednesday neared 2,000 people, with nearly 10,000 injured. Some towns were destroyed and hospitals are overwhelmed with wounded people.
Jerry Chandler, Haiti’s director of civil protection, declared a one-month state of emergency for the country and told the Associated Press he would not ask for international help until the extent of the damages is known.
Many groups and organizations are already helping, however.
“We are deeply saddened by the reports of casualties and heavy damage following the earthquake earlier today in Haiti,” Bruno Maes, UNICEF representative in Haiti, said in press release. “UNICEF is working with government and non-government partners to provide support to affected communities. We stand in solidarity with families and children during this difficult time.”
Executive director Henrietta Fore added: “Health centers, schools, bridges and other essential facilities and infrastructure on which children and families depend have also been impacted — in some cases, irreparably. Making matters worse, Tropical Depression Grace is expected to pass over Haiti late Monday into Tuesday. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges could exacerbate damage from the earthquake and complicate rescue and relief efforts.”
To learn more about UNICEF USA’s support for Haiti victims or to make a donation, visit its website at www.unicefusa.org/HaitiEarthquake.
For those wanting to help Haiti’s earthquake victims, CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities to help those affected by the crisis. Here are those organizations and others seeking donations:
Airlink is a nonprofit organization providing airlift of emergency supplies and relief workers for 130+ aid organizations responding to disasters and other humanitarian crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, occurring around the world. You can donate at https://airlinkflight.org/donate/.
American Jewish World Service is the first and only Jewish organization dedicated solely to ending poverty and promoting human rights in the developing world. You can donate at https://ajws.org/.
Red Cross volunteers and staff work to deliver vital services — from providing relief and support to those in crisis, to helping you be prepared to respond in emergencies. You can donate at https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.
Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. You can donate at https://www.americares.org/.
CARE | Cooperative For Assistance And Relief Everywhere
Atlanta-based CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. The group also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters and helps people rebuild their lives.
CRS’ mission is to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person. Although its mission is rooted in the Catholic faith, its operations serve people based solely on need, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. You can donate at www.crs.org/.
Convoy of Hope works through churches, businesses, government agencies and other nonprofits to provide help and hope to those who are impoverished, hungry and hurting. You can donate at https://convoyofhope.org/donate/disaster-services/.
CORE | Community Organized Relief Efforts
CORE’s programs revolve around building healthier and safer neighborhoods to mitigate the scale of devastation caused by disaster. You can donate at www.coreresponse.org/.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières helps people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. You can donate at www.doctorswithoutborders.org/.
GEM has supported missions in 28 countries, and all 50 states. For 20 years, the team has assisted in more than 295 missions around the world, from the 1999 Kosovo Crisis, the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 to the current 2020 pandemic. You can donate at www.globalempowermentmission.org/financials/how-to-donate/.
Hope for Haiti’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children, through education, nutrition and health care. You can donate at https://hopeforhaiti.com/.
Humanity & Inclusion works alongside people with disabilities and in vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. You can donate at www.hi-us.org/.
JDC | American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc.
JDC, the first Jewish organization in the United States to give large-scale funding for international relief, works in nearly 70 countries to alleviate hunger and hardship. You can donate at www.jdc.org/.
Mercy Corps helps people survive and get back on their feet when natural disaster strikes, economies collapse or conflict erupts. Mercy Corps’ team in Haiti has mobilized and is working quickly to understand the extent of damage and emerging needs. You can donate at www.mercycorps.org/.
As a global health and humanitarian relief organization, Project HOPE’s mission is to place power in the hands of health care workers to save lives across the globe. You can donate at www.projecthope.org/.
Save the Children invests in childhood in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, Save the Children gives children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. You can donate at www.savethechildren.org/.
Atlanta-based Send Relief is the compassion ministry arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Working alongside churches and Christians, Send Relief responds to crisis and strengthens communities around the world. You can donate at www.sendrelief.org.
Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to provide disaster relief to those affected by natural disasters, both domestic or international. You can donate at https://teamrubiconusa.org/.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
Founded in 1940, UMCOR is the global humanitarian relief and development agency of the United Methodist Church. A part of UM Global Ministries, UMCOR works in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the United States and its territories. Working in the areas of disaster response and recovery, sustainable development and migration, UMCOR responds to natural or civil disasters that are interruptions of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on its own. You can donate at https://umcmission.org/umcor/standing-with-haiti-amid-quake-and-storm.
World Central Kitchen began as a response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and was founded with the belief that food can be an agent of change. The group has expanded globally and developed into a group of chefs creating smart solutions to hunger and poverty. You can donate at https://wck.org/.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. You can donate at www.worldvision.org/.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is not endorsing or vouching for any of these groups. The list is a starting point for your own research. Online tools are available to help you evaluate charities, including Charity Navigator and Network for Good.
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