Global Response to Haiti Earthquake Damage

The Caribbean nation of Haiti was hit yesterday by a 7.0 earthquake, the fiercest in recent history. With hundreds injured and unaccounted for from the Haiti earthquake damage, and the country’s government unable to support a formal rescue effort, everyday people have had to act as the real heroes – both in Haiti and around the world.

Amid the wreckage, ordinary Haitian citizens are digging people out from under the rubble by hand. The country is left without water and electricity, and hospitals are already full of wounded Haitians.

Globally, many organizations have already launched their own relief efforts:

• The International Response Fund from the American Red Cross is temporarily directing all of its donations to Haiti.
• The Salvation Army is providing emergency supplies and personnel.
• Wyclef Jean, a musician originally from Haiti, also set up a relief organization called Yele.

You can even donate by text message, by sending Haiti to the Red Cross at 90999 ($10 donation) or Yele at 501 501 ($5).

The Haiti earthquake damage was caused by the strongest quake to strike the country in over 200 years. Haiti is located along the space between the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, which triggered the earthquake by grinding against each other.