WASHINGTON, Saturday, January 16, 2010 —

Truckloads of Red Cross supplies arrived in Port-au-Prince today and thousands of responders are traveling the streets providing water and first aid as well as finding lost loved ones and transporting people with serious injuries to nearby health facilities.

“America’s support – donations made in the United States to the American Red Cross – is reaching the hands of survivors in Haiti,” said Steve McAndrew, disaster relief specialist with the American Red Cross in Port-au-Prince.

Within the convoy that arrived today are 50-bed field hospitals and purification equipment capable of producing 10,000 gallons of drinking water per day. The mobile hospitals have a dedicated section to help people cope with emotional trauma. Toys and specially-trained volunteers will be available to comfort children, who are particularly vulnerable.

An additional seven truckloads of equipment and materials including medical supplies, that were on Red Cross planes re-routed to Dominican Republic Friday, are traveling overland and are expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince by Sunday. Two flights will arrive in the capital city, carrying enough relief supplies for more than 32,000 families, on Monday as well.

The American Red Cross team and responders from more than 30 countries, totaling more than 100, have now arrived and are providing a wide-range of support, including food, water, field hospitals, emotional support and sanitation services.

“We are working with the Haitian Red Cross volunteers, who have intimate knowledge of the community,” said McAndrew. “Survivors are receiving aid from their neighbors, who they know and trust, with support from the international community.”

“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.

I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.

President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”

Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things:
1. Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill)
2. Or you can visit Yele.org and click on DONATE.

Haiti needs your prayers and support: Wyclef Jean on CNN
Click Here

Make a donation online by clicking on our "Donate Now " button or by sending a check to:  
Yéle Haiti, PO Box 2345, New York, NY 10108

Click here for a link to the Official RedCross Website

“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.

I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.

President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”

Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things:
1. Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill)
2. Or you can visit Yele.org and click on DONATE.

Haiti needs your prayers and support: Wyclef Jean on CNN
Click Here

Make a donation online by clicking on our "Donate Now " button or by sending a check to:  
Yéle Haiti, PO Box 2345, New York, NY 10108

A disaster struck the capital of Haiti and surrounding areas where 2 million people live. We’ve been in touch with Red Cross staff on the ground, who report collapsing buildings and aftershocks that have forced terrified people into the streets. The people of Haiti need our help.

We’ve immediately pledged an initial $200,000 from our International Response Fund to provide food, water and other relief to people impacted by this earthquake, knowing the first 48 hours are absolutely critical to save lives.

Please make a donation now to the International Response Fund to help victims of countless crises like the earthquake in Haiti. Your gift will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

We must be prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation. Red Cross volunteers will work throughout the night to reach survivors trapped in their homes. And based on the needs they find, the American Red Cross will provide additional support, including relief supplies from our global warehouses.

Your donation of any size could help save the day by providing food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support to someone in need.

Help provide hope amidst destruction and give the gift that saves the day:

http://american.redcross.org/haiti

Thank you again for your generous support,

David Meltzer
Senior Vice President
International Services
American Red Cross