Haiti Disaster Response | |
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UN Photo/Logan Abass The UNITED NATIONS You can help disaster relief efforts in Haiti by contributing through ELCA Disaster Response, one of the best organizations available to deliver help where it’s needed quickly and efficiently. And if you’re a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, your donation will be matched $1 for every $2 you contribute (up to $250). While many humanitarian organizations are unable to get aid into Haiti, ELCA Disaster Response partners are already on the ground assisting survivors. Your help is needed now to bring immediate relief and continued hope for our sisters and brothers in Haiti. One hundred percent of your gifts designated to Haiti will be used in this vital response effort. What happened
The city is without electricity and the telephone network has been overloaded with calls making it impossible to reach friends and family. The presidential palace is in ruins and many churches have been destroyed. Hospitals that were not directly impacted by the quake are overflowing and the search for survivors is intense. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, this catastrophe will exacerbate the suffering felt by many already living with hunger and poverty. ELCA Response:The ELCA, through the Lutheran World Federation, is already responding to the critical needs of survivors in Haiti. Thankfully, the LWF offices and staff on the island were spared in the earthquake, making it possible for work to begin immediately. Staff there will focus their immediate efforts on issues of water safety and sanitation, assisting with medical triage, and providing emergency sheltering for the many who are now homeless. The ELCA has long-standing relationships in Haiti through several organizations and the Lutheran Church in Haiti. In anticipation of your generous gifts, ELCA Disaster Response has authorized $250,000 for immediate relief assistance in Haiti, with the possibility for an additional $500,000 as the full scope of this disaster continues to become clear. Your gifts are needed now to make this type of rapid response possible. While volunteers, especially skilled workers, will likely be needed in the coming months, the situation on the ground is still far too chaotic – no water, no power, few roads, and very limited communication – to support volunteers traveling to the area in the immediate days. How to Donate• Give directly through ELCA Disaster Response. • Member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans? Thrivent will match a portion of your gift. Get details and donate here.
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On January 12 at 4:53 p.m., a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the island country of Haiti, primarily impacting its capital of Port-au-Prince and its nearly two million residents. It is believed that more than 3 million citizens of Haiti are affected. The epicenter of the quake was centered approximately 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince. Offices, hotels, houses and shops have collapsed. Over 30 aftershocks ranging from 4.2 to 5.9 have already been recorded.