Helping Haiti - UPDATE 2

This is part of the latest report from the BBC:

Up to 10,000 US troops will be on the ground or off the coast of Haiti by Monday to help deal with the earthquake aid effort, US defence officials say.

Tuesday's earthquake has left as many as 50,000-100,000 people dead.

The UN has launched a flash appeal for $562m (£346m), saying three million people would need help for six months.

The UN said a total of about $310m (£190m) in international aid had been pledged so far for the relief effort.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that distribution of food and medicine was under way, but correspondents say there is little immediate sign of a co-ordinated relief effort on the ground.

The UN's World Food Programme says two million people will need food aid, but it has so far managed to feed just a few thousand.

Meanwhile, the head of the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said thousands of people were waiting for surgery in Haiti's hospitals, AFP news agency reported.

Correspondents say survivors seem increasingly desperate and angry as bottlenecks and infrastructure damage delay relief efforts.

Port-au-Prince's small airport is filled to capacity and US air traffic controllers have taken charge to help manage the influx of planes.

The port is too damaged to use and roads are blocked by debris, although the main route from the Dominican Republic is now clear.

Our readers have responded to this humanitarian crisis in a very generous and compassionate way. We thank you all.

Unfortunately, there are further victims in this catastrophic event:

IFAW is mounting an emergency animal relief mission in response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Many people have perished and been seriously injured, and homes and buildings around the capital have been decimated.

Many animals are also suffering, so IFAW is partnering with WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) to mount a coordinated animal relief response.

Once the human relief efforts have taken hold and security is in place - and depending on the needs we find on the ground - our team will deploy to begin treating critically injured animals...vaccinating them against deadly diseases like rabies and leptospirosis...and distributing food, water, and basic medical care.

To donate, please visit IFAW.

Thank you SoCalWolfGal, for sending us this information.

+++

To continue to donate to other relief organizations:

Red Cross

Twitter donation ($10 to American Red Cross)

International Medical Corps

International Red Cross

Small dog

Doctors Without Borders

Partners In Health

Oxfam

Direct Relief International

UNICEF

MADRE

World Food Programs (United Nations)

HuffPo article about donations made by credit card.

UPDATE 2

Our friend CR46 had fresh news from Haiti, which she received via ham radio directly from friends who are helping with the rescue of the victims.

Unfortunately many relief people (workers) have not been able to been venture out on their own. The one second hand "ham radio" info I got said it is horrible , unfortunately a large percentage of the population is dead or wounded. (this is from my Search and Rescue friends on the ground in Haiti) They went out without "support" and are digging people out--they said it is scary but when people realized that they had the tools (S&R dogs) to find injured and dead that they found a "group" that is escorting them (basically a gang). It is worse than they have ever seen ( even compared to the big Mexico City earthquake that I was with them on). Looting is rampant -- not for profiteering , but for survival. They are only miles from the Port-o-Prince airport--but it seems to be a surreal type of world.

Tomorrow if a "ham radio" message comes through I will post an update. Please do not let any "slow" responses stop you from contributing--it speaks to the large scale of the damage that the organized systems are broken down! That means even more help is needed. Please keeep these people in your thoughts and actions!
.