By:Shira Moskowitz

Business Manager

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a destructive 7.0 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti. According to the USGS, at least ten aftershocks followed, two being in the magnitude 5 range. The devastating earthquake has been the most powerful quake to hit Haiti in more than a century, and has been named one of the biggest catastrophes for the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation (CNN). President Obama stated that the U.S. Government would “stand ready to assist the people of Haiti (CNN).” According to the CIA World Factbook, even before the quake, eighty percent of Haiti’s population lives under the poverty line.

According to CNN, as of January 19, authorities have buried 70,000 bodies, a third of the estimated final toll. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive told CNN that at least 72,000 bodies have been recovered, not including the unknown number of bodies buried by families or collected by the U.S. peacekeeping mission. It is still unknown how many of the dead bodies have been identified prior to their burial and how many of those burials occurred in mass graves. Dr. Jon Andrus, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization, stated that he knows the bodies have been buried inappropriately, and refers to lack of refrigeration as a complicating factor. According to CNN, there are 3 million people in need of food, shelter, water and medical assistance. U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki moon told reporters that 43 international rescue teams composed of 1,700 people have carried out around 90 rescues.

The more rescue help that is brought to Haiti, the better conditions are becoming. On Tuesday, January 19, surgeries resumed at University Hospital, the country’s largest hospital. At the capital’s general hospital, doctors were working under stressful and unsanitary conditions which have deemed the medical facilities unsafe. Dr. Mark Hyman of Partners in Health told CNN reporters, “We have run out of IV’s, IV needles, and IV fluids and surgical supplies. We have to wash with vodka and we have to operate with hacksaws because we don’t have enough operating tools.” The United Nations Security Council has now agreed to send an additional 2,000 soldiers and 1,500 police officers to the country. President Rene Preval thanked aid workers for their help in bringing back electricity and communication, clearing roads, providing shelters, distributing food and re-establishing hospitals.

According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, people outside of Haiti have donated over $220 million dollars to major U.S. relief groups. According to CNN, dozens of rescued orphan children arrived in Pennsylvania on Tuesday the 19^th to be placed with foster families until adoptions are finalized.

When such a tragic and catastrophic event such as this occurs, it is not only up to the wealthy or famous people in this world to help out; it is up to ordinary people such as college students like you and I to make a difference. To find the complete list of organizations that are providing relief to Haiti, please visit http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/.

If you are someone who is looking for a family member of for a loved one in Haiti, you can call 888-407-4747. This number is for information on U.S. Citizens in Haiti only.

For those of us who are technologically advanced, you may use text messaging to donate money towards helping relief organizations in Haiti.
To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text HAITI TO 90999.

To donate $ 10 to UNICEF text UNICEF to 20222.

Clinton Foundation: Text HAITI to 20222 ($10 donation)
Yéle Haiti: Text YELE to 501501 ($5 donation)
United Way: Text HAITI to 864833 ($5 donation)
Intl Medical Corps: Text HAITI to 85944 ($10 donation)
World Food Program: Text: FRIENDS to 90999 ($5 donation)
UN Foundation: Text CERF to 90999 ($5 donation)
Compassion Intl: Text DISASTER to 90999 ($10 donation)
Intl Rescue Committee Text: HAITI to 25383 ($5 donation)
The Salvation Army: Text HAITI to 52000 ($10 donation)
Cure Intl: Text CURE to 85944 ($10 donation)
Oxfam: Text OXFAM to 25383 ($10 donation)
Samaritan’s Purse: Text SP to 85944 ($10 donation).

Soles4Souls is also collecting tennis shoes or work boots for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. If you would like to donate your shoes you may visit http://www.soles4souls.org/about/locations?zip=91377 to find local participating locations.

These are the times where it is most important to drop all of our judgments, disagreements, and differences and come together as the human race to help one another. Always remember that the good you do will always find its way back to you. In the words of Flora Edwards, “In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.”

*Please note that every day that goes by more bodies are found. As of Monday, January 25, the death toll has been brought up to 150,000 and sadly is expected to increase.