Earlier this week, an earthquake measuring 7 plus on the Richter’s scale hit Haïti. Instead of posting a travel photo on Friday as usual, I’m doing a little bit to bring attention to how we can help Haiti.

Body pulled out from the rubble of a collapsed school. Photos by Marco Dormino/UN on UNDP’s Flickr photo stream

Quick facts:

  • The most important needs are medical attention, food and clean water
  • 3 million people may need humanitarian aid, including food
  • Only half of Haïti’s population has access to safe drinking water
  • More than half the population live below the poverty line (one dollar (US) per day)
  • In 2008, Haïti was hit by 3 hurricanes and one tropical storm.

Plenty of aid agencies are in place, all doing important work. We all have to choose however, and my two are Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without borders) and the UN: either through the WFP (World Food Programme) or UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

MSF
It’s easy to donate to MSF: Here’s how (click on your country).

WFP
You can donate to WPF here and UNDP here. Additionally, WPF is taking full advantage of social media. Help spread the message through Twitter and Facebook.