Earlier President Obama called the damage left behind by the devastating earthquake in Haiti “incomprehensible.” As many as three million people have been affected, according to the Red Cross. Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat told CNN’s Anderson Cooper the earthquake was “one of the darkest nights in our history.”
“We are going to need an extraordinary amount of help in the days and months and years to come,” she added. “I think the whole country is going to need rebuilding and the people who are the poorest of the poor and the least able to withstand something like this, are suffering. We absolutely need help. We desperately, desperately need help.”
Stephanie Bunker, a spokesperson for the United Nation’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told WNYC Radio’s Brian Lehrer that the best thing people can do to help right now is to send cash or checks, not materials, because they “clog up the pipelines.” Rather, she suggested that any one wanting to help should send money to a trustworthy organization. “Send money quickly, she said, “Send money to people that you trust.”
Here are ways that you can help Haiti through this storm:
Wyclef Jean is urging everyone to donate money by texting the word “Yele” to 501501 to make a $5 donation over the phone. You can get up-to-the-minute updates from Wyclef through his Twitter page.
New York City nightclub impresario Unik Ernest–who’s Edeyo Foundation has built a school in Haiti–is planning a star-studded charity concert in February. In the meantime, you can donate to relief efforts by going online to edeyo.org
The Red Cross has already released $200,000 in disaster funds but could always use your donations. Call (800) REDCROSS or go online to redcross.org. Text “HAITI” to “90999” and a donation of $10 will be automatically charged to your cell phone bill to help the Red Cross with relief efforts.
Direct Relief International has already sent nearly $420,000 worth of medicine and essential to the St. Damien Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince. You can donate at directrelief.org.
You can donate as little as $10 through UNICEF by going to unicefusa.org/haitiquake or calling (800) 4UNICEF.
Mercy Corps lets you donate by phone, mail or online at mercycorps.org or (888) 256-1900. Mail checks to Haiti Earthquake Fund, Dept. NR, PO Box 2669, Portland, Oregon 97208-2669.
Here is a list of other organizations you can send donations through: