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SpunOut Blog: Help Haiti

Natural disasters shake us all up.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

The news is flooding right now with accounts and images of the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that has literally shaken Haitian society to the core. It is the most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in over 200 years, and there are thousands suspected dead. 

SpunOut.ie extends it sympathies and solidarity with the people of Haiti and the millions of others worldwide doing their bit (no matter how big or small) to help our friends in this terrible situation.

The Irish government has announced that it is putting its Rapid Response Corps on standby for travel to Haiti. Likewise, Irish and international relief agencies are calling on ALL OF US for support.


Here's how YOU CAN HELP: 

Avaaz.org 100% of funds raised will go into post-earthquake relief and rebuilding programmes and efforts to strengthen local systems in Haiti -- it's the most direct way to build Haiti's resilience and help meet the desperate needs of the people on the frontline who need help urgently today.


ActionAid has been in Haiti since 1996, working with over 30,000 people. They are on the ground and urgently working to help save lives in the short term, while also looking to provide assistance to Haitians to rebuild their lives.


Concern’s main response will focus on providing medicine, water, food and shelter.
 

GOAL is hoping to have its contact on the ground in Haiti soon and have pledged €250,000 to assist victims.
 

Oxfam has had a sustained presence in Haiti and the 200 staffers currently stationed in the country, including a highly trained emergency response team of 15, are rushing to meet the basic needs of people who may have lost everything.

Trocaire work in Haiti has for many years focused on helping communities prepare for natural disasters such as this one.


UNICEF's response, coordinated with other UN agencies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, is aimed at children and women, who are the most vulnerable in times of crisis. Children under 18 make up nearly 50 percent of Haiti’s 10 million population.
 

If you’re not in a financial place to donate (like a lot of us are!), there are other ways you can help make a difference:

  • Contact the above organisations about how you can give your time and energies in other non-monetary ways. You may surprised how eager they are to have your valued help.
  • Contribute your thoughts and reactions to SpunOut on this catastrophe, natural disasters, international aid and relief efforts in general, and any other related subject by submitting comments below, chatting in the SpunOut Forum, and submitting your original reflections for immediate publication on our website.
  • Contact Comhlámh, the Irish Association of Development Workers and Volunteers, about ways you can become part of their 'people power' for social change.
  • Take a moment of silence with thoughts of those suffering and triumphing over adversity in Haiti. Tough times like this affect us all.
  • You can … (fill this space with your unique contribution....)

 

- The SpunOut Crew

 

 

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