Prayers to Haiti.

[CRMH Eagle]

After living and traveling in third-world countries I can personally testify that conditions in those regions are horrible in the absence of a major catstrophe. The earthquake in Haiti has made a very bad situation into a very-bad-times-100 situation. My heart goes out to the victims and I will contribute my donation to an organization that is directly helping the victims.

Anyway, you know it's very bad in Haiti when France is sending relief help.

My prayers are to Haiti. Very difficult situation. I'm very blessed to live here in CO. Godspeed to those going to Haiti to help.

 

[smokeFJR06]

The church I attend had 14 people over there on a mission trip. 4 of them made it on a plane yesterday morning. The others are okay, but trying to find a way home.

Yes, I believe it is very bad over there and they need our prayers.

 

[Old Michael]

... conditions in those regions are horrible in the absence of a major catstrophe...

So true. To be already impoverished and struggling through life, and mother nature adds to the misery -

it seems especially cruel and tragic. They're just people,.... and this is heartbreaking.

I humbly encourage y'all to do what you can, ...if you can.

 

[Dr. Rich]

Very tragic... Hopefully countries around the world will provide the support and relief to help these people rebuild...

 

[BwanaDik]

A desperate situation:

Medecins Sans Frontiers

We donate a pile of $$$ to these folks every year, they are one of the few organisations where +90% of the donation actually makes it to the front lines and doesn't get eaten up in the internal bureaucracy. A good place to start if so inclined to help.

 

[MEM]

A desperate situation:
Medecins Sans Frontiers

.... they are one of the few organisations where +90% of the donation actually makes it to the front lines and doesn't get eaten up in the internal bureaucracy. A good place to start if so inclined to help.

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[James Burleigh]

This is an opportunity for governments to step up and rebuild from the ground up Haiti's infrastructure. While at KPMG, my former company, I was director of its Natural Disaster Advisory Services practice (which I created). We initially worked with local governments across the US and protectorates to identify and account for their disaster-related costs in support of federal reimbursements. I have probably been to 30 US disaster sites, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and fires, as well as Ground Zero a month after 9/11.

I then transitioned the practice to go to work for the FEMA (now Homeland Security) Office of Inspector General to audit the use of federal disaster-relief funds at the state level. And when Hurricane Mitch hit Central America, where corruption is part of the cultural fabric, I then introduced our services to the Interamerican Development Bank in DC to help support transparency and accountability in the local, in-country application of disaster-recovery funds. We did concurrent audit work in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and in Nicaragua.

I am proud of, and moved by, the immediate and overwhelming response of the US government and local governments like City of LA to this tragedy. One challenge among many, but that I am particularly aware of from my experience, is achieving effective and transparent application of the billions in recovery dollars that will flow into a country not having the educated accountants or sophisticated computer systems to manage all those funds, many of which will come with strings attached regarding what they can be applied to.

But the democracies of the Western Hemisphere should take this oppportunity to say it is unacceptable that we should have a country at the poverty level of Haiti in this region, and use this effective blank slate to rebuild Haiti from the ground up: new water collection, treatment, distribution; new sewer collection and treatment; roads; buildings; codes; universities, etc. If handled properly, this event can also be a catalyst for job and econoomic growth. From these ashes can rise a Phoenix. All it takes is money, well managed.

 

[Patriot]

This is an opportunity for governments to step up and rebuild from the ground up Haiti's infrastructure. While at KPMG, my former company, I was director of its Natural Disaster Advisory Services practice (which I created). We initially worked with local governments across the US and protectorates to identify and account for their disaster-related costs in support of federal reimbursements. I have probably been to 30 US disaster sites, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and fires, as well as Ground Zero a month after 9/11.
I then transitioned the practice to go to work for the FEMA (now Homeland Security) Office of Inspector General to audit the use of federal disaster-relief funds at the state level. And when Hurricane Mitch hit Central America, where corruption is part of the cultural fabric, I then introduced our services to the Interamerican Development Bank in DC to help support transparency and accountability in the local, in-country application of disaster-recovery funds. We did concurrent audit work in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and in Nicaragua.

I am proud of, and moved by, the immediate and overwhelming response of the US government and local governments like City of LA to this tragedy. One challenge among many, but that I am particularly aware of from my experience, is achieving effective and transparent application of the billions in recovery dollars that will flow into a country not having the educated accountants or sophisticated computer systems to manage all those funds, many of which will come with strings attached regarding what they can be applied to.

But the democracies of the Western Hemisphere should take this oppportunity to say it is unacceptable that we should have a country at the poverty level of Haiti in this region, and use this effective blank slate to rebuild Haiti from the ground up: new water collection, treatment, distribution; new sewer collection and treatment; roads; buildings; codes; universities, etc. If handled properly, this event can also be a catalyst for job and econoomic growth. From these ashes can rise a Phoenix. All it takes is money, well managed.

my prayers are lifted for the people of Haiti

we have given a billion dollars to this country with little making a difference; corrupt governments are like that

dictatorships suck

until the government is "for the people", more $$$ will make no difference

appropriate disaster relief is called for, but something else has to happen when it's insane to keep doing the same under the same circumstances expecting different results

 

[Patriot]

A desperate situation:
Medecins Sans Frontiers

We donate a pile of $$$ to these folks every year, they are one of the few organisations where +90% of the donation actually makes it to the front lines and doesn't get eaten up in the internal bureaucracy. A good place to start if so inclined to help.

my personal favorite is Compassion International with the same as above track record...I have sponsored children over the years and have enjoyed a personal relationship with them and their family's through letter writing back and forth

I support a doctor friend missionary who I met while he was in med school. Got his MD here in New Orleans and has a heart for the Congo in Africa. Actually established a hospital there. My preference has been African children as you can more or less pick a country or area where Compassion International is working and they will recommend a child who is waiting for a sponsor.

It is a drag, however, when you learn waring factions force family's to move out of the combat zone and I lose touch with "my child."

 

[Bearly Flying]

billions in recovery dollars that will flow into a country not having the educated accountants or sophisticated computer systems to manage all those funds,

Maybe that's not a bad thing (judging from the last couple years)

Hopefully the money will go to help the people and rebuild their lives, not into the pockets of Politicians or Bankers.

Can't imagine the devastation they are facing.

 

[Bounce]

The office sent out an info post with links that lead to this page.

https://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

If you've been wondering who to funnel Haiti support through, there's bound to be someone there that makes you comfy.

Red Cross does NOT make me comfy but it gets all the publicity... which is probably paid for with left overs from the donations they didn't use for the last 3 or 4 "events". Their own info explains that they may not use your designated donation for the releaf effort you think you're helping. When OKC got bombed/tornadoed, RC got something like $3M in donations but only used something like $1M for OKC; taking the balance to use elsewhere (some in overhead).

 

[Patriot]

The office sent out an info post with links that lead to this page.
https://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

If you've been wondering who to funnel Haiti support through, there's bound to be someone there that makes you comfy.

Red Cross does NOT make me comfy but it gets all the publicity... which is probably paid for with left overs from the donations they didn't use for the last 3 or 4 "events". Their own info explains that they may not use your designated donation for the releaf effort you think you're helping. When OKC got bombed/tornadoed, RC got something like $3M in donations but only used something like $1M for OKC; taking the balance to use elsewhere (some in overhead).

as far as the "big charitys" I am quite comfortable supporting the Salvation Army

they were a god send here during Hurricane Katrina and have a stellar reputation

no multi million dollar campuses for their headquarters like some others