Darn it, Haiti

[Anonymous]

I am not sure how these people will pull through this one.
So much suffering for one country, it is unbelievable.
Seems like nothing goes right for them.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking the same thing as I watched the news last night. I am from Jamaica and studied a lot of caribbean history and there is not a single period in this country's history where they had peace and prosperity. Its odd, but it seems that the best time this country had was before Toussaint (sp?). I just don't get it.

[Anonymous]

They are the poorest people in the Western hemisphere. They would be happy to have the life of most Cubans. They just can't seem to get any traction economially or politically.
I fully understand why the slaves revolted. The timing was problematic since so few were well educated as they tried to plunge ahead. Their bavery was admired by other slaves in the Caribbean.
I am another one from the Caribbean. Just want to say sorry.

[jsteele]

Back in the days when I was working internationally, I went to Haiti 7 times. I passed by the Presidential Palace often and always admired it. It was shocking seeing it collapsed. The other scenes on TV were devastating. I don't know how the country will recover from this. It's really tragic how Haitians have been through suffering upon suffering.

[Anonymous]

I was in Florida for the 2004 election and worked a polling place in a Haitian neighborhood. The lines were so long and voting so slow that we feared they would give up and leave, so we spoke to some to encourage them to stay. They told us that for them the right to vote was worth risking your life for; a few hours waiting was not going to stop them!

Good people!

[Anonymous]

I feel so sorry for these people, especially the children. What is a good organization to donate to?

[Anonymous]

There are also 9,000 UN Peacekeepers there, one who is family, thankfully he is ok. But it is shocking how many people, both Haitians and others, that have been hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so sorry for these people, especially the children. What is a good organization to donate to?

This is my question.
I am from the Caribbean and in medicine, and I actually thought of going down there, but I am not a Francophone, so I would probably just in the way.
I might check with Doctors Without Borders, but they always say that they have enough money.

[Anonymous]

I think that Wyclef Jean's organization is well-reputed - www.yele.org. They have been doing good work in Haiti since before this disaster and I am sure they will also continue on after. I just actually donated $100 to them.

[Anonymous]

what about the Simply text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Haiti relief. is this direct and for real?It's all over facebook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so sorry for these people, especially the children. What is a good organization to donate to?

I just started a thread about donations in the Off-Topic forum with a link the Red Cross' International Response Fund. My husband knows someone who works for Oxfam-- It's a great organization and they already have people in Haiti.

[Anonymous]

CARE and Oxfam are two organizations with excellent history and experience, and staff already on the ground in Haiti.

When considering what organization to donate to, you should look not only at charity navigator, but also at the org's experience in the country in question. You don't want to be funding a group that will just take its cut and send the balance on to the Red Cross. In a case like Haiti, you want your funds going directly and quickly to relief efforts, and in order for that to happen, it needs to go to a group already in place.

[Anonymous]

The Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and Catholic Charities have very good reputations for dealing with disaster situations.

[Anonymous]

I gave to Partners in Health. They got the top rating from Charity Navigator and already have missions in several parts of Haiti.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and Catholic Charities have very good reputations for dealing with disaster situations.

Yes, but I have this vague memory that the Red Cross mismanaged donations for....was it the tsunami or was it Katrina? I want to donate but does anyone know if they have gotten their act together?