Ok folks. No glamour here. No sexy starlets. No red carpet première and no A listers.
Just pure tragedy. Plain and simple.
Haiti, the second largest Caribbean island has been hit with a terrible, horrific earthquake (7.0 magnitude) and the devastation has been displayed worldwide. Thousands upon thousands of people have been killed(The Red Cross has reported an estimated figure of 50K so far) displaced out of their homes, lost family members and are in much need of serious medical attention. Most of these people had very little to begin with now they have zero. Nada. Nothing.
Port-au-Prince, the capital city is basically gone. Destroyed. Scenes of buildings collapsed, homes destroyed and people running ,crying & screaming in the streets trying to find their families and friends have been shown all over the world. A few television producer friends of mine were able to send some texts saying that they can’t stop crying as they are reporting on the horrific scene in the streets. The worst they say are the people trapped in the collapsed buildings, some as 9 storeys high that have no way of getting immediate help. Thousands are severely injured and in immediate need for medical help but there are limited resources at this point so they have to wait. It maybe too late for some.
According to the Red Cross about three million people were effected by the earthquake and the country is in immediate need of supplies, medical help and food.
Relief planes have been seen carrying supplies & aid into the devastation and many humanitarian groups & people are struggling to get the supplies like food and clothes to victims due to the obstruction of the main roads from the earthquake.
The Obama Administration urges all Americans who are trying to find their family members to call the State Department at 888-407-4747.
For the rest of you that want to help, here are some organizations that are in immediate need. The Ravi Report has been told that as of now, monetary funds are being requested more so than food or clothing.
How to help Haiti
1. www.redcross.org – click the ” donate now” button at top and then International Response Fund or call 1-800-Red-Cross.
2.www. americares.org is a disaster relief organization delivers medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world. Call 1-800-486-HELP . All donations will be used for medicine, medical supplies and for expenses for providing that medical aid.
3. www.doctorswithoutborders.org or call 1-888-392-0392.
4. www.imcworldwide.org – contributions will go towards medical supplies, medicine and emergency kits and transporting the supplies. 1-800-481-4462.
5. www. opusa.org or call 1-800-678-7255, or mail a check to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave., Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.
6. www.yele.org– founded by singer Wyclef Jean, the organization helps to improve the education, health and community development in Haiti. Text YELE to 501501 to donate.
7. www. Unicefusa.org or 1-800-4-UNICEF.
8. www.pih.org– Partners in Health for the past 25 years have given help in Haiti. 1-617-432-5256.
Also for daily updated information, contact the Embassy of Haiti in Washington D.C. at www.haiti.org.
Many NY fundraisers will be organized in the coming weeks so please stay in touch with The Ravi Report for updates/coverage.
The journey & prayers continue….
Ravi