Haiti Recovery, Aid After Earthquake (PHOTOS)

In the day and a half since a 7.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Haiti, the international community has pledged support to the recovery process, and aid groups have entered the country and its devastated capital Port-au-Prince to begin distributing food and supplies.

Paramedics and doctors have begun the process of treating the thousands of wounded, without the luxury of a standing hospital.

See our Haiti Earthquake Relief page for details on how to contribute to the organizations on the ground.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • French rescue workers are seen at Paris Roissy airport en route to Haiti, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Comments

[AmandaBC]

11:53 AM on 01/15/2010

A French rescue worker? I can't believe that. Watching American TV I got the impression it's only Americans who are helping out...

[rockinrod]

03:04 PM on 01/14/2010

My friend Marc sent this to me. "After you donate to Haitian aid please call @ 1 [phone] to give your opinion of the statements Pat Robertson made regarding the tragedy in Haiti- Remember that each call costs the 700 Club $1."
He has it on autodial!

[Patience and Persistance]

12:23 PM on 01/14/2010

I'm feeling so inspired by the efforts to help the Haitians in their current crisis. For people that are trying to find loved ones or friends try this website--www.familyinhaiti.com.

[imjustawitchywoman]

10:57 AM on 01/14/2010

My Heart is with all these people.

So devastating.

This people have so little and now most have even less.

Just saw the comment that American AirLines is flying Doctors and Nurses to Haiti for free.....wonderful.

I am in dire straights lately.....and to top it off my cars engine is gone ....so I have no vehicle and no way to purchase another one unless I borrow the money or win the lottery..

I am still going to find some extra cash.....somehow.... someway to send to these people.

I guess in the grand scheme of things what ever crosses we have to bare are trivial compared to what alot of other people have to live with.

For all the Countries (including our own) that are responding quickly......Thank You. The devastation we see on tv is heart wrenching......I am sure it is much worse to witness it first hand.

Brightest Blessings for doing the right thing and extending your hand to reach down and grasp the hand(s) of a fellow human being(s) who need to be helped.

[ForeverHopeful]

10:50 AM on 01/14/2010

MY HEART IS ACHING, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING, OTHER THAN JUST GIVE MONEY!!

[Tulka2]

05:01 PM on 01/14/2010

Give blood.

[rtaylor352]

05:32 PM on 01/14/2010

Right now, the best we can do is support the survival/relief professionals. Monetary donations to them will by needed food, water, and medicines.

When the time is right, Haiti will need volunteers to help rebuild the housing that was destroyed. Here is a sign-up page for the Fuller Center for Housing, a tremendous group that I worked with in El Salvador last year. They will be sending information as it becomes available.

http://www.fullercenter.org/global-builders/haiti

[mihihi]

10:33 AM on 01/14/2010

AMERICAN AIRLINES is taking doctors and nurses to Haiti for free. Please call 212-697-9767. Spread the word

[Josh Seipp]

10:53 AM on 01/14/2010

ALWAYS check your facts before reposting something. American Airlines is not flying anybody anywhere for free. If they were, it would be on their web site. They wouldn't rely on Facebook and Twitter solely. Plus, that phone number isn't even to AA, it's to the Consolute General of Haiti, in NYC, who probably have enough problems.

[DallasDon]

07:06 AM on 01/14/2010

This is not a time for politics or r@cism.
Regardless of what we think of these people based upon where they live or who runs their country, there are untold numbers of people injured and suffering.
They deserve the same care and compassion as anyone.

A catastrophe could happen right where you're sitting.

If an earthquake ruined your home and your life you'd want people to care and help. If nothing else, we can all show compassion for these poor, unfortunate people.

Whenever we vilify and degrade any life, we're all diminished.

Our lives on this planet are too short, the work to be done too great, to let this spirit flourish.

Perhaps we can remember, if only for a time,
that those who live with us are our brothers and sisters,
that we share this same short moment of life,
that we seek nothing but the chance to live in purpose and in happiness,
winning what satisfaction and fulfillment that we can.

At the end of the day, and at the end of life we're all the same.

[AmandaBC]

11:55 AM on 01/15/2010

"This is not a time for politics or r@cism."

Tell it to American TV, portraying the rescue effort as an exclusively American thing... You don't think that's using the victims to play politics?

[lemondade]

02:58 AM on 01/14/2010

"GOD BLESS YOU, FRANCE, FOR RESPONDING QUICKLY AND COMPASSIONATELY."

[Annespeaks]

07:56 AM on 01/14/2010

hear hear

[ghee99]

01:15 AM on 01/14/2010

hi

does anyone know any groups that are accepting volunteers to actually go to haiti and help?

i am available, and could go for a month or more, as a volunteer

if anyone knows of any resources, that could point me in the right direction,
just comment on this post, or you can write me directly at :
dcellnyc at aol dot com

thanks

[Jonathan Daniel Harris]

01:38 AM on 01/14/2010

Hi ghee99. We've received (literally) hundreds of e-mails from concerned readers, asking for a way to volunteer in Haiti. As of this time, we're asking anyone who wants to help to give money to one of the organizations listed on our Haiti Earthquake Relief page. Rescue teams from several nations are on their way and humanitarian organizations are sending people who have been trained in disaster relief and emergency services.

Most organizations are not willing, at this time, to take untrained volunteers, as it would present a significant safety issue to those people. It's also simply not feasible to organize the number of people who want to travel to Haiti and adequately instruct them in how best to serve.

That being said, we expect that some nonprofits will organize teams to go to Haiti in the coming months for more concerted and long-term recovery efforts. This is a long process and we can only hope that Americans will be as generous in June and July as they are being today.

At HuffPost Impact, we want to bring you as much information as we can about how to make a difference after this tragedy. Thanks for reading and we'll certainly report it if and when nonprofits are organizing volunteer teams to go to Haiti.

[ghee99]

02:21 AM on 01/14/2010

oh, thanks for the reply

i am actually skilled in many useful areas, not the least of which are construction, rigging, plumbing, basic electrical, basic medical, propane, and basic mechanical.

With 20 plus years working special FX for the film industry, have had experience in all sorts of technical, and mechanical fields.

I have also been to Hispanola numberous times, and have lived in west africa, so I am familiar with many issues that are unique to developing nations.

Also as a former US Embassy employee in Equatorial Guinea (who was involved at times in relief efforts) and (going back a ways) White House intern, I have a pretty good understanding of working alongside of govt agencies, if need by.

All things being equal, I think I might actually be able to be useful, and might just have the necessary skills to help as needed.

My only problem is that I do not know who to contact, and most groups are only taking donations, at least publicly.

In any event, if you or anyone who reads this has any suggestions, please let me know,

thanks

[SPQR1052]

06:03 PM on 01/16/2010

Jonathan,

Wrong, wrong wrong. NEVER turn away a pair of hands.

In fact this person can do something:

http://www.fullercenter.org/global-builders/haiti

Signend disabled AMERICAN vet living in Switzerland voluteering hands to reBUILD Haiti. ( In a few months boots will be on ground.)

[shutterbabe]

10:32 AM on 01/14/2010

ghee99,
Your post is so sincere and truly touched me. Take care of that boundless heart.

[Lark Winner]

10:49 PM on 01/13/2010

If you are on Facebook...

Savvy Dad is donating $1 for every person that fans the World Vision facebook page in the next 24 hours.

Here's the link the the World Vision Facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/#/worldvision?ref=ts