After yesterday’s massive earthquake in Haiti in which over 100,000 are feared dead, I contacted The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta for recommendations of organizations known for fast disaster relief. Here is their response:
SAMARITAN’S PURSE http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=AZD0408H1001&__utma=1.3516537644142395400.1263428617.1263436222.1263467651.3&__utmb=1.1.10.1263467651&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1263467651.3.3.utmcsr=seagullwriting.wordpress.com%7Cutmccn=(referral)%7Cutmcmd=referral%7Cutmcct=/&__utmv=-&__utmk=144725044 I have heard they are gravely concerned about 800 missing staff members and have lost all three of their hospitals.
MEDSHARE INTERNATIONAL http://www.medshare.org/donate/critical-need-alert
My heart bleeds. The poorest nation in the Western hemisphere did not need this to happen. Please give generously.
My daughter is spreading the word about the following organizations recommended by CNN. She also recommends Plan, Path and ADRA, not on the CNN list below. Beware: post disaster relief work invites scams. She has made a gift to CARE and I am supporting Doctors Without Borders.
A note about the American Red Cross. I can no longer support them because of their leadership problems and the lack of follow-through I experienced while volunteering after Katrina. I do recommend the International Red Cross, however, and I have friends whom I respect highly who work for them.
Organizations providing basic needs: American Red Cross, World Vision, UNICEF USA, International Relief Teams, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, American Jewish World Services, Clinton Foundation, Yele Haiti, World Concern, Mercy Corps, Operation Blessing International, UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
Organizations providing shelter: Shelterbox, Habitat for Humanity International
Organizations providing medical aid: Direct Relief International, International Medical Corps, Medical Teams International, Operation USA, MAP International, The International Committee of the Red Cross, World Health Organization, Americares
Organizations providing food: World Food Programme, The Salvation Army, Compassion International, Food for the Poor
Lastly, please pray. THANK YOU.
UPDATE: Tracy Kidder, the author of Mountains Beyond Mountains which is about the work of Harvard’s Dr. Paul Farmer in Haiti, reports in The New York Times ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/opinion/14kidder.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1263481309-duDYmjnv4o8aDNmILFGuqQ ) that Partners in Health, co-founded by Dr. Farmer, is one of the few organizations whose infrastructure is undamaged and still operating. I would think that this organization should be supported first: http://www.pih.org/youcando/donate.html .
