Haiti Earthquake Update: How You Can Help

As flights resume transporting injured victims to U.S. hospitals, the quest continues to save lives and rebuild the poverty-stricken nation after the devastating earthquake. These flights were temporarily suspended due to logistical concerns for the lack of hospital space, according to the White House. Additionally, questions were raised regarding payment for the care of the victims as they do not have insurance. These concerns have been dealt with and transportation will resume this morning.

The State Department is working with the Haitian government to protect the children from human trafficking. There have been concerns for existing Haitian orphans as well as “a number of people, including, many, many children, have been displaced, separated from their families. This poses great risk, and particularly for children, of a higher vulnerability to human trafficking,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley has stated. With previous concerns for illegal child trafficking, the Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive has stated it “is one of the biggest problems we have.”

There are currently thousands of volunteers from dozens of countries present in Haiti to rescue and aid the injured. Some relief workers have even left their jobs and families to do what they can to help in shelters, provide water and food, or to assist in rescuing survivors from the rubble. There are a lot of ways you can help through multiple charitable foundations. If interested, here are some ways you could help:

The American Red Cross: To make a donation text HAITI to 90999* to donate $10 to Red Cross for their efforts in Haiti.

UNICEF: Requesting donations for relief for children in Haiti. Call 1-800-4UNICEF

Yele Haiti Foundation: To donate to the Haiti native, Wyclef Jean’s, nonprofit organization text YELE to 501501*

The United Nations Foundation: To donate $5 text CERF to 90999*

International Rescue Committee: To donate $5 text HAITI to 25383*

Compassion International: To donate $10 text DISASTER to 90999*

Save the Children: To donate $10 text SAVE to 20222* for the Save the Children for Haiti earthquake victims

K.I.D.S (Kids in Distressed Situations):Pproviding clothing, diapers, and water is accepting monetary donations as well as product donations. Call K.I.D.S President Janice Weinman at 212-279-5493 x207 for information on how to donate.

NNU (National Nurses United): 100% of donations will go directly to sending nurses to Haiti. Go to www.nationalnursesunited.org

*All text donations will be added to you phone bill.

The above list is only the tip of the iceberg in ways you could help the Haitians during this devastating time. For extensive information, missing person reports, and updates from Haiti you may also visit www.haitiearthquake.tel