A week after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, international aid efforts are the subject of global appeals from governments, relief organizations, journalists, entertainers and more.
Experienced relief organizations like the American Red Cross have benefited the most from campaigns to raise funds, and are starting to mobilize more effectively to help Haitians survive.
Relief for survivors of the earthquake is essential, and the delivery of food, medicine and other needs has been hampered most acutely by destroyed infrastructure.
In the coming days and weeks, aid agencies and governments will need to help Haitians survive and recover from this natural disaster. Soon, they will help Haitians with rebuilding, so the generosity of people from around the world will be needed to assist with this effort, as well.
During this crisis, new technology has allowed for small donations to accumulate quickly into a substantial pool of funding for aid agencies. In some cases, people may be reticent when choosing an organization to donate to, unsure that their donations are being spent wisely or having a real impact.
For starters, potential donors can visit the websites of the individual organizations to review their activities in previous crises, see financial records or view annual reports. Then, it is important to read information about their specific plans for Haiti, and their intended use of donor funding.
A list of several organizations who work in food security and aid can be found on InterAction’s website. Whether you choose to donate to these organizations or others, you can always research their ability to fulfill their missions by checking them on sites like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau. Charity Navigator even has a special page listing organizations that it has rated highly for their work in Haiti or large-scale disasters.
Finally, the World Food Programme’s website provides several ways to follow news about their work and to donate to their food aid effort in Haiti.
Posted by Michael Lucivero.
