As you may have heard, an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck off the coast of Haiti on Tuesday, leaving thousands injured and homeless. The Haitian people need your charitable efforts. Personally I recommend Médecins Sans Frontières.
It’s very easy to contribute — here’s MTV’s list of charities:
The Red Cross has a full-time staff on the ground in Haiti, providing ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster preparedness programs, and has already pledged an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by the earthquake. They seek additional donations to continue providing food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.
UNICEF saw its offices in Port-au-Prince suffer heavy damages in the earthquake, but is ready to provide relief, deploying “essential aid” — safe water, sanitation supplies, therapeutic foods, temporary shelter materials and medical supplies — to assist in recovery efforts.
Direct Relief International is a U.S.-based organization that provides medical assistance to impoverished nations, and has committed up to $1 million to aid emergency response efforts. Already, they have sent two 40-by-20-foot containers packed with more than $420,000 of medicine, supplies and food to St. Damien Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince.
World Vision has worked in Haiti for 30 years, and is seeking donations to provide victims with food, water, blankets and tents.
UPDATE: Sarah Larnach, the talented local artist behind all of Ladyhawke’s album art, is auctioning off one of her original works, with all proceeds going to help Haitian earthquake victims. Here’s her take on the situation:
I’m Sarah Larnach, and do all of the artwork for Ladyhawke. I was nominated for an A.R.I.A. for the Ladyhawke album artwork. Excuse me for being blunt, but this is serious, and I am doing what I can to raise help.
My sister, Emily Sanson-Rejouis, her husband and 3 daughters (ages 5, 4 and 2) are in Haiti right now, and only Emily and the youngest child have been confirmed alive. I am auctioning an original painting from the Ladyhawke album/singles for charity, to assist in Haiti.
This is the first time a piece of artwork from my Ladyhawke work has come up for sale, so its a rare opportunity to help, and to own something that would normally be difficult to get your hands on. Pip Brown and Sarah Larnach will also sign a copy of the single (Paris Is Burning) and album where it appears, as well as writing a personal letter of thanks to the buyer.
The artwork is a watercolour painting of two cats. I’m auctioning the painting on eBay. The auction is on now (searching “Ladyhawke” and “Haiti” should also bring up the correct auction).
