Mercy Corps for Haiti

Concerned about the best way to get aid to Haiti? Donating to credible and viable charities with the best staff, the expertise and the resources to truly make a difference should be our focus.

In the research that I have done one of the best non-profit first responder teams that fits this bill is www.Mercycorps.org. They have been in existence since 1979 and have garnered support from public entities such as Amazon.com, ITT Corporation, Best Buy, Western Union, Gap, Nike, among others.

Besides the logistical provisions of water, food and sanitation, Mercycorps also has the programs and the staff to help restore families and children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005).

Here's what they are doing right now...
(You can check their blog for their frequent posts for updates and photos).

Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery.

Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response.

Team of Experts

Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005).

Learn more about our Haiti Response Team

Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs

The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: water and sanitation, trauma support and job creation.

Five days after the quake, this woman and her baby need water first, then food and shelter. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

Earthquake survivors like this little girl are living in parks and vacant lots around Port-au-Prince. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

Clean Water and Sanitation
Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors.

Job Creation and Economic Recovery
To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce.

Trauma Support for Children
When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life.

To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005).

A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery
The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families.

Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency.

HOW TO HELP

Mercy Corps is accepting donations toward our earthquake response. Public support thus far has been strong, and corporations such as Amazon.com, ITT Corporation, Best Buy, Western Union, Gap, Nike, and Trilogy/Voilà have generously contributed to our efforts.