7.0 Earthquake Tuesday in Haiti

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[daMamma]

The leadership of the organizations of one or more of the countries sending aide is going to have to make all those decisions.  Where to set up triage, as there is no hospital.  Where to set up food distribution and supplies.  This poor little country has had virtually everything wiped out.

When I heard hundreds, possibly 1000 dead, that was stunning enough.  Now the numbers have climbed to 6 digits dead or missing.  That is too huge a number and will make everything that much more difficult to recover from on top of all the other problems caused by, as well as those existing prior to, this quake.

[judi]

Tragic....omg...have immediately sent a bit of money to red cross, dont usually like to donate to them for other reasons...but in this case did so immediately...and then to drs without borders...so agree with pacos gal...this is a great org  I give to them often and especially in any diaster as they get in real quick with medical help...we dont have much right now...but oh we are so much richer than those that have nothing....

just want to know why are the poorest, most deprived countries seem to get the hardest hit???

my prayers and positive energy is going out to all directly affected...and have to say I am once again proud of my president who immediately offered aid...

[futurexpat?]

I also gave to Doctors Without Borders, as I know they are a great organization, and even more importantly in this case, I heard that they are actually there already providing relief.

This is going to be a huge challenge. There's very little infrastructure there, and what little there was is gone. I think the totals of dead and injured are going to be horrendous. I'm hearing numbers from thousands to half a million, but surely that last number won't be right.

[weaver57]

Donated to Doctors Without Borders tonight. The medical catastrophe will be huge not to think of everything else. Earthquakes are awful as are the aftershocks. It is hard to believe that so many buildings were so poorly constructed.

[pacos_gal]

One Canadian nurse has died in Haiti and 2 RCMP members are among missing.   An early assessment team will have arrived on a C-130 today from Canada.  They will determine exactly what they think is going to be needed supply wise and report back where the DART team is waiting and ready to go.  Supplies are ready to be loaded also, depending upon what is reported to be needed, and they will be bringing 2 helicopters.  There is a C17 ready to make deliveries as soon as an assessment is received. 
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100113/100113_haiti_cda/20100113/?hub=CP24Home
and
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canadian+confirmed+dead+Haiti+others+missing/2437001/story.html

Sounds like things are getting organized.  I understand the U.S. is doing the same thing and will probably have a team on the ground today. An American Coast Guard Ship has arrived and at least 4 Americans have been flown to Guantanamo Bay for treatment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/world/americas/14cutter.html

[Aeroentropy]

I nearly drove off the road on my way home from work today, when NPR aired this report:

Pat Robertson Blames Haitian Devil Pact For Earthquake

PAT ROBERTSON: And, you know, Kristi, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, "We will serve you if you will get us free from the French." True story. And so, the devil said, "OK, it's a deal."

I am still speachless.

[Forty Watt]

I thought this was horrifying until I heard about Robertson.

Limbaugh: Obama will use Haiti to boost credibility with "light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country."

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001130018

[futurexpat?]

I heard that today. It made me want to cry. Honestly, why is that evil old man still around?

[Forty Watt]

I heard that today. It made me want to cry. Honestly, why is that evil old man still around?

To tell you the truth, I didn't realize he was! 

[futurexpat?]

I heard that today. It made me want to cry. Honestly, why is that evil old man still around?

Ditto Rush Limbaugh. I had also already heard that.

(Hey, I think I just quoted myself!)

[ds55]

Keith Olbermann just delivered a lovely smack-down of both Robertson and Limbaugh.

[Forty Watt]

Didn't he just?  Go KO! 

[gratedcheese]

...um how long did it take Bush to do something for NOLA during Katrina? ...4days?
I remember seeing Brownie say they had just found out about people at the convention center...I saw it on cable TV the night before...

I almost feel sorry for rush and pat followers, they must be sad, little people.

[Lani]

I found this link at The Daily Dish.  Donations can probably best be used, quickly, with less overhead, by organizations present on the ground before the earthquake.  And the need for donations will continue for a long time, so if we can't help now, when we can/what we can will be appreciated and needed later.

Some of the organizations have already been mentioned in this thread.

The blog is "Good Intentions are Not Enough:  An honest coversation about the impact of aid".

Choosing organizations to donate to after the Haiti earthquake http://informationincontext.typepad.com/good_intentions_are_not_e/2010/01/suggestions-for-donors-in-choosing-ngos-to-donate-to-after-a-disaster.html

I'm opening this blog up to advice from aid workers to donors on choosing which organizations to donate to after disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti. What type of organizations should they look for and what should they avoid. I'll compile the advice as it comes in and update this post often.

The situation after a disaster can be chaotic, with a rush of international, national, and local aid agencies as well as individuals trying to help. To understand what is happening and to make good donor decisions, please take a second to read through this blog.

[gratedcheese]

 ...watching CNN Anderson Cooper... live till midnight CST .It is so overwelming 
 he did a story on ...Mudcakes ...they were eating dirt to overcome hunger pains ....it was from  2008 after the hurricanes , I cant imagine having to feed that to my child.... so sad, almost unbelievable....
I will never say i am dirt poor again

[daMamma]

I'd seen that mudcakes thing before.  Food there is beyond expensive for the poorer people.  It got really bad a while back when they were having so much trouble with the leadership change over fighting. 

How horrible it must be to have quite literally nothing to eat but dirt.  Such a thing had been a going (joke?) in my family since for ever.  You know those words when you are a child and refusing to eat something at dinner.  "When I was your age all we had to eat was dirt, and we ate that dirt and liked it.  Sometimes we had carpet lint"  That used to be real funny.  Not any more.

[Lani]

Haitian Ambassador Joseph responds to that hateful message from Robertson:

Haitian Ambassador Shames Pat Robertson
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#34851879

I would like the whole world to know, American especially, that the independence of Haiti when the slaves rose up against the French, and defeated the French army, a powerful Army, the U.S was able to gain the Louisiana Territory for $15 million.

... So what pact the Haitian made with the devil has helped the United States become what it is.

[Lani]

And more discussion here about idiots like Robertson who should read some REAL history books:

For such a historical event that is considered the only successful slave revolt in human history (ponder that for a second if your heart allows, the only successful slave revolt), The Haitian Revolution is no where near as prevalent in textbooks or curriculums from kids growing up in this nation as it should be. Of course, watered down curriculums, even at certain elite high schools, is not a benefit for this nation at all. ...

... Robertson once again added another embarrassing chapter for Christians all over. The questions of those already turned off of the faith by the likes of Robertson will be justified in asking, "Is this the hypocrisy and hate Christianity really teaches?" As a Christian myself, it just was one of those forgettable moments that could damage someone actually believing in the faith, just like any of the other ugly Robertson statements.

But there was nothing hideous about the truth Raymond Joseph uttered tonight. And if it augmented someone's emotions for the small nation after somehow being persuaded by Robertson's comments to not have much sympathy for it as you should, then the strong impact of Joseph's slapback this evening is even stronger.

Raymond Joseph Delivers A Message To Pat Robertson (And Everyone Else) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/13/824876/-Raymond-Joseph-Delivers-A-Message-To-Pat-Robertson-(And-Everyone-Else)

[Jeff from Vegas]

just want to know why are the poorest, most deprived countries seem to get the hardest hit???

my prayers and positive energy is going out to all directly affected...and have to say I am once again proud of my president who immediately offered aid...

I know there are a lot of non-believers, agnostics, and people who don't care out there. I think this is a time of hope in the long term, and unbelievable pain and suffering in the short term.

It shows, with glaring clarity the selfishness of the republican party and other organizations and other governments the shortsidedness of their "It's mine, I own it, if you want some go get your own" thinking that permeates the republicans and their like-minded compatriates.

We all know that we throw away enough food daily in this country to feed the hungry in most of the world. We know that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs could, alongside the Walton Family be airlifting and dropping Water, Food, Windows 95, old out of date Computers, and real change to the poor of the world.

Let's help them help themselves.

Instead it will be co-ordinated by the Socialist Fascist Government. The have mores are at the theatre tonight. These republicans will not vote to expedite health care reform, will not help ANY legislation get moving quickly to get to helping the Haitian people. Mark my words, some moronic republican will try to use Obama's use of one word uttered incorrectly about the earthquakes in a month of Sunday's as PROOF Obama is corrupt.

I pray for these wonderfully rich in spirit Haitians that their days become better as God wills it. I take this as a sign of God showing us our selfishness as we watch Survivor and the Haitians eat mudpies to end the feeling of starvation. I pray to a merciful God that he share his love with these people and allow them peace and comfort.

We should have instant help available as a world now to spring into action for these situations. The clock is ticking and people are dying by the minute. This catastrophe may not have been preventable, but their living conditions have been brought about by evil men. The buildings did not need to act like dominoes. Those conditions today show the lack of following the word of God.  

Let the world commit to building the Haitian people a model city with the best minds from every nation. Let God supply it all.

Pray for this miracle.

When God delivers, the republicans and their fellow hatemongers will shake and tremble with fear. I ask God to begin to assert His will in Haiti. Let the world see that You have the ability to fix and repair the Haitian people and their country.

Amen

[Lani]

Aid has begun to reach the Haitians.  Although the scope of the disaster is overwhelmingly horrific, these photos show how quickly international efforts are moving to bring assistance. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/13/haiti-recovery-aid-after_n_422638.html