Earthquake in Haiti
On January 12, 2010, a powerful earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti approximately 16 miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince, killing tens of thousands of people and leaving countless others homeless and without resources. The destruction of much of the infrastructure of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has complicated communications and rescue operations.
The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has affected the large Haitian community in the Boston area, as well as others who have friends and relatives who were visiting or living in Haiti at the time of the earthquake, many of whom are still awaiting information about their loved ones. Individuals and local organizations are also looking for ways that they can provide assistance to the people of Haiti.
Information for Families
- Family Links — The Red Cross FamilyLinks site helps those separated by disaster to find information about their loved ones
News Sources
- Boston Haitian Reporter — News by and for the local Haitian community, including streaming video live from Haiti, and feeds from local Haitian blogs
- Haiti Earthquake — News and resources from Boston.com
- Haiti Earthquake — Extensive coverage of the crisis and aid efforts from CNN
- Haiti — News stories, photographs and other resources from the New York Times
How to Help
Many people are looking for ways to donate money to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts in Haiti. There are many legitimate charitable organizations accepting donations, but you need to be cautious to avoid scam artists and frauds.
How To Spot Dubious Haiti Charity Pleas — This article by William P. Barrett of Forbes.com offers some useful advice to help you avoid the scams
- Earthquake Information and Emergency Response — Links from the Embassy of Haiti to the United States
- Haiti Earthquake: How to Help — MSNBC’s list of charitable organizations active in the nation
- InterAction Members Respond to the Earthquake in Haiti — InterAction is the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people
- Stand with Haiti — “Partners in Health, the medical aid organization founded by Paul Farmer and made famous in the Tracy Kidder book Mountains Beyond Mountains, is mobilizing its resources to bolster its clinic efforts in Haiti.”
