Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near the capital that destroyed buildings and left thousands of people dead or missing.
The United States is sending first responders to Haiti to assist victims of a powerful earthquake, as part of a coordinated American response that includes the departments of Defense, State and Homeland Security.
Families seeking information on loved ones or friends in Haiti are encouraged to call the U.S. State Department at 888-407-4747. Visit state.gov for more information.
If you would like to help, you can also donate to these groups:
- Save the Children. Donate at savethechildren.org or make checks out to “Save the Children” and mail to: Save the Children Income Processing Department, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, Conn. 06880
- UNICEF. Go online to unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call (800) 4UNICEF.
- Red Cross. Go online to redcross.org and click Donate, or call (800) REDCROSS. Or donate $10 to Red Cross 4 Haiti by texting Haiti to 90999.
- Direct Relief International. Donate online at directrelief.org.
- Mercy Corp. Go online to mercycorps.org or mail checks to Haiti Earthquake Fund, Dept. NR, PO Box 2669, Portland, Ore. 97208 or call (888) 256-1900
- To donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund, text “Yele” to 501501 (the amount will be charged to the person’s cell phone bill) or visit www.Yele.org and click “Donate.”
For more information on the American Red Cross Relief For Haiti visit
http://newsroom.redcross.org/
You can also visit the Red Cross Chat Room
http://redcrosschat.org/2010/01/12/earthquake-in-haiti/
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