Yesterday, a devastating earthquake of 7.0, the likes of which have not been seen in the Caribbean in 200 years, has destroyed most of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. Haiti is already one of the poorest nations in the world. Can it get worst? Yes. And they need help and they need it now!

News agencies are posting links to charitable organizations providing assistance and emergency relief to the Haitian people. Here are a few.
. This is a direct link to Oxfam America’s form to donate relief funds to Haiti.
Oxfam America

The International Red Cross. They have set up a cell phone donation line: text “HAITI” to “90999.” The Red Cross is always the traditional go-to organization for emergency relief. I believe they are on the ground now in Port-au-Prince

Direct Relief International is already heading out the door with relief supplies. On their website they have posted that emergency medical support is en route.

Wyclef Jean has set up a cell phone donation line through his Yele Haiti organization to support earthquake relief efforts. Text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund. The $5 will be charged to your cell phone bill. Or make a donation on-line to Yele Haiti using your credit card.

The U.S. State Department has issued information re a phone number for Americans who are trying to locate U.S. citizen family members in Haiti:
The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about U.S. citizen family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording). Our embassy is still in the early stages of contacting American Citizens through our Warden Network. Communications are very difficult within Haiti at this time.

The U.S. is immediately responding to the crisis. You can view/read President Obama’s remarks on the White House blog.

Updates – other organizations helping Haiti:
Doctors Without Borders is on the ground in Haiti now. They are accepting donations.

The Global Fund for Children supports organizations that are in Haiti now and are part of the relief efforts and other services to Haiti’s people. They have established an emergency fund for Haiti.

Update: E-Notes connected with author Edwidge Dandicat who is still trying to locate missing relatives in Haiti. She encourages everyone’s support and mentions the Red Cross as well as Partners in Health working in Haiti.