Haiti earthquake

Note: The following appeal is now closed.  You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross

 

NEED 
Powerful earthquake hits Haiti – Urgent help needed 

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by several powerful aftershocks, struck off the western coast of Haiti, causing buildings to collapse in Port au Prince and chaos as people fled the damage. It is estimated that 3 million people have been affected and 200,000 left homeless.

HOW RED CROSS IS HELPING 

The Canadian Red Cross has sent $600,000 in financial assistance, supplies and personnel to support emergency relief efforts on the ground and will provide additional emergency assistance as needed. There are 12 Canadian aid workers arriving in Haiti over the next 72 hours. In total, over 120 international Red Cross delegates have been deployed to Haiti along with over $3 million in relief supplies. Red Cross staff and volunteers continue to work around the clock to help the many people affected by this disaster.

HOW YOU CAN HELP 

Canadians who wish to give may to support relief efforts in Haiti may do so by donating online, by calling toll-free 1-800-418-1111 or by visiting any Red Cross office.

Double your impact - the Government of Canada will match dollar for dollar the contributions of individual Canadians to eligible Canadian charitable organizations, such as the Canadian Red Cross, in support of humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction efforts in response to the earthquake in Haiti, up to a total of $50 million. Visit the Canadian International Development Agency website for more details.

IN KIND DONATIONS Traveling to the area or in-kind donations of food, clothing and other items, while well intentioned, are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries. Local purchases of food and clothing are more culturally appropriate and effective. Red Cross supplies can be purchased in the immediate area, thereby reducing transportation costs. Cash transfers to the affected region provide the optimum flexibility to our Red Cross colleagues so they can meet the most urgent needs.

WORK OVERSEAS 

The Canadian Red Cross sends trained relief and development workers, also known as delegates, to many countries around the world. However, delegates are not volunteers; these specially trained personnel are hired to work for the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or for the Canadian Red Cross on bilateral projects with other Red Cross National Societies. When there is a need to send delegates overseas, the Canadian Red Cross sends personnel from its existing delegate pool. The Red Cross will not be recruiting new delegates specifically for this relief operation. As always, interested individuals are encouraged to apply to their local Red Cross office to become international delegates and follow the required training programs and interview processes.