Haiti: In Need Of Help

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti last Tuesday has left the city of Port-au-Prince in shambles. The doctors and citizens in need are begging for more help. The looters are trying to kill each other over basic items such as toothpaste, and doctors do not have efficient tools to save those who they find injured.

An estimated 200,000 people are dead and 1.5 million people are left without homes. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has joined in and brought food for 67,000 people on Sunday and will feed around 97,000 people on Monday. This help is not sufficient, though. Hundreds of thousands are still hungry and struggling to live even after making it through the initial earthquake. The WFP still has to have over 100 million meals in the next 30 days to continue feeding those in need.

The European Union has promised to help Haiti by pledging 606 million in aid and the U.S. has agreed to give 100 million. 1,700 troops are currently in Haiti helping out and will be met by 2,000 Marines expected to arrive Monday (yesterday). 9,000 U.N security officials are also there, working to maintain the peace between the looters and panicked people. The gun fights over supplies are multiplying the craziness of the disaster. Doctors have to focus on surgeries for earthquake victims, and also now the victims of gang violence.

Things in Haiti will not improve quickly. Predictions of city rebuild taking years if not decades are already surfacing. However, most officials and doctors are not concerned with the far future but are focused on the immediate future of the people of Port-au-Prince.

The United States has numerous amounts of charities and funding that people can donate to. Here is where you can find a link to the most popular organizations that are in the process of donating to Haiti. If you would rather volunteer, there are many opportunities for people of all ages to help out. Donate to the Red Cross, whether it be your time, money or blood. There are also places you can donate clothes to the people of Haiti.

Most non-profit organizations must have our help to bring enough aid to the citizens of Haiti. These charities were developed so that citizens like us can add our efforts and time to helping those in need. We must keep the help consistent. It's time for the world to work together in order to rebuild a hurting nation. Join the fight to save the citizens of Haiti as they try to overcome this disaster.