United Way Worldwide Disaster Relief Fund for the earthquake victims in Haiti

On the evening of January 12, 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. It is the most powerful quake to hit the impoverished country in more than 200 years. The tremor struck 15km (10 miles) south-west of the capital Port-au-Prince, and was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude. Reports describe the destruction to affect as much as 70 percent of the buildings, with debris filling the roads making emergency response difficult. The Prime Minister reported on January 13 that hundreds of thousands of lives may have been lost.

You can help people affected by disasters by donating to the United Way Disaster Fund.

Gifts to the Fund support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and infrastructure devastated by disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges. Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, our United Way system has rallied to support those in need. Because there is not a United Way in Haiti, United Way Worldwide is working through its members and other partners in Haiti to respond. The Caribbean Council is assessing needs and opportunities to begin the long-term recovery, as well as to ensure that donations are invested in the most effective nonprofit agencies providing services in Haiti. The Caribbean Council is a regional group that comprises United Ways in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. Thomas / St. John), and Trinidad and Tobago.