Diaspora Mobilize to Help Haiti in Earthquake Aftermath
carelpedre, a radio announcer based in Port-au-Prince, writes this morning:
1st After Shock Of The Day!!! IHaiti is sill shaking!! HELP!!
There have been at least 30 aftershocks following the 7.0 earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince yesterday, just before 5pm EST. Information is still hard to come by, but it is feared that many lives have been lost it what is the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years. The presidential palace, UN headquarters, not to mention an unknown number of shops and houses, have been seriously damaged or collapsed in the earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks.
As international media begin to arrive on the scene, several residents of Port-au-Prince continue to Tweet their eyewitness accounts. Dan Kennedy writes about the role of citizen media in keeping Haiti connected to the world.
Photomorel, a professional photographer based in Haiti, posts devastating images of the quake (warning: graphic content).
Photo of Port-au-Prince in aftermath of January 13th earthquake (David Morel @photomorel)
Diaspora mobilize
The Haitian Diaspora have been mobilizing to support Haiti with its financial support and its prayers, and by exchanging information about missing family members. On Twitter, rapper Wyclef Jean , currently en route to Haiti, is asking people to donate funds to his Yele organization. A network of Diaspora on Twitter and Facebook are spreading the word.
Many on Twitter have warned about donating to fraudulent organizations. reduceharm writes:
and advocates giving to groups like Yele, Catholic Relief, and Partners in Health.
Looking for Loved Ones
Most of Port-au-Prince is still without power, phone lines are down, and many have still not been able to reach their friends and family.
There are friends and co-workers that are missing. People whom no-one can account for. People we work with and love. There are more than I can name, but in particular we wait on one single friend who lived near the Hotel Montana – which has reportedly collapsed.
The horror has only just begun and I beg you to get on your knees – I truly mean ON YOUR KNEES and pray for the people of this country. The news might forget in a few days – but people will still be trapped alive and suffering. Pray. Pray. Pray. After that – PLEASE PRAY.
New York, Florida, Conn, New Jersey, Massachusetts & Canada are up tonight..thats for sure #Haiti
12 comments
I pray in tears for the wounded , the homeless, the children the old, the men and women, i pray in tears for the dead…. my your souls be in the safe hands of god