name: MercyCorps (WASH/SHELTER/HEALTH CLUSTER) - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY) -> MercyCorps - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY)
notes: From the site 10/29/10: Haiti Emergency Mercy Corps is helping contain the spread of a deadly cholera outbreak that has killed at least 280 people and sickened thousands more. The camps where earthquake-displaced families live are at an especially high risk, so we're focusing on those places, as well as local hospitals that have been overwhelmed with suspected cholera cases. -------------------------------------- A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE: What We're Doing in Haiti February 4, 2010 Country: Haiti Topics: Displacement, Emergencies, Water/Sanitation Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that more than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the United Nations and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and Hurricane Katrina. Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. Clean Water and Sanitation Water and sanitation assessments continue in preparation for securing clean water and safe latrines for 42,000 people in Haiti's capital. On February 3, our team installed a water filtration unit at a local hospital. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps has initiated a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. We plan to employ about 7,000 workers in some of Port-au-Prince's poorest and most-devastated neighborhoods. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps is providing post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China and Peru earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left three million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================= FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you! -> From the site 10/29/10: Haiti Emergency Mercy Corps is helping contain the spread of a deadly cholera outbreak that has killed at least 280 people and sickened thousands more. The camps where earthquake-displaced families live are at an especially high risk, so we're focusing on those places, as well as local hospitals that have been overwhelmed with suspected cholera cases. Problem At least 284 and 3,769 sickened in Haiti's first cholera outbreak in 50 years. Cholera is easy to treat but highly infectious. The estimated 1.2 million earthquake survivors still living in tent camps in Port-au-Prince are particularly vulnerable. Solution Help communities access clean water, maintain good hygiene practices and learn life-saving information about how to stay healthy and treat dehydration -- cholera's principle cause of death -------------------------------------- A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE: What We're Doing in Haiti February 4, 2010 Country: Haiti Topics: Displacement, Emergencies, Water/Sanitation Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that more than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the United Nations and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and Hurricane Katrina. Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. Clean Water and Sanitation Water and sanitation assessments continue in preparation for securing clean water and safe latrines for 42,000 people in Haiti's capital. On February 3, our team installed a water filtration unit at a local hospital. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps has initiated a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. We plan to employ about 7,000 workers in some of Port-au-Prince's poorest and most-devastated neighborhoods. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps is providing post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China and Peru earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left three million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================= FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you!

notes: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE: What We're Doing in Haiti February 4, 2010 Country: Haiti Topics: Displacement, Emergencies, Water/Sanitation Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that more than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the United Nations and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and Hurricane Katrina. Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. Clean Water and Sanitation Water and sanitation assessments continue in preparation for securing clean water and safe latrines for 42,000 people in Haiti's capital. On February 3, our team installed a water filtration unit at a local hospital. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps has initiated a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. We plan to employ about 7,000 workers in some of Port-au-Prince's poorest and most-devastated neighborhoods. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps is providing post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China and Peru earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left three million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================= FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you! -> From the site 10/29/10: Haiti Emergency Mercy Corps is helping contain the spread of a deadly cholera outbreak that has killed at least 280 people and sickened thousands more. The camps where earthquake-displaced families live are at an especially high risk, so we're focusing on those places, as well as local hospitals that have been overwhelmed with suspected cholera cases. -------------------------------------- A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE: What We're Doing in Haiti February 4, 2010 Country: Haiti Topics: Displacement, Emergencies, Water/Sanitation Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that more than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the United Nations and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and Hurricane Katrina. Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. Clean Water and Sanitation Water and sanitation assessments continue in preparation for securing clean water and safe latrines for 42,000 people in Haiti's capital. On February 3, our team installed a water filtration unit at a local hospital. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps has initiated a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. We plan to employ about 7,000 workers in some of Port-au-Prince's poorest and most-devastated neighborhoods. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps is providing post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China and Peru earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left three million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================= FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you!

name: MercyCorps (SHELTER/HEALTH CLUSTER) - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY) -> MercyCorps (WASH/SHELTER/HEALTH CLUSTER) - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY)
other_contacts changed.

name: MercyCorps (SHELTER CLUSTER) - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY) -> MercyCorps (SHELTER/HEALTH CLUSTER) - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY)
other_contacts changed.
mission: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. -> Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

name: MercyCorps (2010 Haiti Earthquake Response) (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY) -> MercyCorps (SHELTER CLUSTER) - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response - (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY)
address: Mailing Address: PO Box 2669, Dept W Portland OR 97208-2669 USA -> Mailing Address: PO Box 2669, Dept W, Portland OR 97208-2669 USA Haiti
other_contacts changed.

name: MercyCorps (2010 Haiti Earthquake Response) -> MercyCorps (2010 Haiti Earthquake Response) (DIST: FOOD / TRAUMA COUNSELING / WATER PURIFICATION INSTALLATION / JOB RECOVERY)

notes: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you! -> A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE: What We're Doing in Haiti February 4, 2010 Country: Haiti Topics: Displacement, Emergencies, Water/Sanitation Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that more than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the United Nations and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and Hurricane Katrina. Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. Clean Water and Sanitation Water and sanitation assessments continue in preparation for securing clean water and safe latrines for 42,000 people in Haiti's capital. On February 3, our team installed a water filtration unit at a local hospital. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps has initiated a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. We plan to employ about 7,000 workers in some of Port-au-Prince's poorest and most-devastated neighborhoods. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps is providing post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China and Peru earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left three million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================= FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you!

notes: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you! Please give today to help Haitian families. -> A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE WEBSITE 1/24/10: Mercy Corps’ team of emergency response experts is working to meet the immediate needs of survivors – water, food, shelter, hygiene – in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12. At the same time, our team is laying the groundwork for longer-term recovery, drawing upon Mercy Corps’ three decades of experience helping disaster-struck communities transition from receiving aid to carrying out their own recovery. Haitian authorities estimate that up to 200,000 people died in the earthquake, and that three-quarters of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, will have to be rebuilt. The Mercy Corps team is coordinating with the UN and other aid groups on the ground to ensure the most efficient response. Team of Experts Mercy Corps has deployed an A-team of humanitarian first responders. These experts from around the world have collective experience that includes responses to the China earthquake (2008), Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2008), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Right Now: Water, Trauma Support, Jobs The Mercy Corps response is currently focused on immediate humanitarian needs: food to beleaguered hospitals, water and sanitation, trauma support for children and job creation. We're supplying the overwhelmed General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which was largely destroyed in the quake, with high-energy biscuits and food staples to cook fresh meals. Our water expert is exploring ways to improve quality and quantity of available water. And we're expanding our work to other hospitals, and working with UNICEF to meet the needs of children and new mothers. Clean Water and Sanitation Mercy Corps is helping survivors access clean, safe water and sanitation services, working with our partners ITT Corporation and the Boston-based NGO Partners in Health, a leader in Haiti medical relief since its founding in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer. We are using multiple creative approaches, including de-salinization, water tanks, filtration units and alternative water sources, to get life-saving water to Haiti’s struggling survivors. We're also assessing neighborhoods to support with sanitation advice and services. Job Creation and Economic Recovery To jumpstart the decimated economy and begin rebuilding efforts in earthquake-affected areas, Mercy Corps will initiate a cash-for-work program that pays earthquake survivors a daily wage to clear debris, restore buildings and repair basic infrastructure. Through the cash-for-work approach, survivors carry out their own recovery efforts. Employing survivors gives them the dignity of earning an income they can then spend on the supplies they need for their families. Their purchases in turn help restart local commerce. Trauma Support for Children When the earthquake struck, all schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed. Haitian children who survived the earthquake experienced trauma that could negatively affect them for life. To help restore children’s sense of well-being, Mercy Corps will provide post-trauma help using Comfort for Kids. This counseling methodology was first developed in New York by Mercy Corps and Bright Horizons, a global workplace childcare provider, to help children recover from the trauma of 9/11. Subsequently, Mercy Corps has used Comfort for Kids to help children recover from the China (2008) and Peru (2007) earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina (2005). A Long Track Record of Helping Recovery The earthquake in Haiti left 3 million people in need of aid, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Caribbean nation suffers extreme hunger and political instability, and this disaster only increases the needs of thousands of impoverished Haitian families. Mercy Corps has a long track record of helping people living in the world’s toughest conditions to recover and rebuild after natural disasters and conflict. The agency has special expertise in disaster response that establishes a foundation for, and leads directly to, self-sufficiency. ========================================== FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you!

region: Carribean -> Haiti, Caribbean

region: -> Carribean

notes: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Please give today to help Haitian families. -> A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince this afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital. With communications from the area disrupted, the situation is unclear — but with continued aftershocks and eyewitness accounts of "total disaster and chaos," there are fears of catastrophic damage and widespread casualties. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to the island nation. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is plagued by hunger and political instability. This disaster will drastically increase the needs of families who had little to lose in the first place. Your donation will help us mobilize and deploy our emergency team to rush much-needed relief supplies to earthquake survivors. Mercy Corps has a long history of helping earthquake survivors meet their immediate needs and recover what they've lost. We aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. ---------------------------------------- FROM THE MERCYCORP BLOG 1/12/10: On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 (9:34 pm), Roger Burks wrote: Hi everyone, thank you for the incredible outpouring of support and offers to deploy and help out with the emergency relief effort. We appreciate your willingness to lend a hand! Unfortunately Mercy Corps does not send volunteers to our programs overseas, even in emergencies. Our staff is made up of paid professionals, and we hire people locally. We also don't accept donations of disaster-relief items. There are many good reasons for these policies, most of which can be found on the FAQ page of the Center for International Disaster Information, under the "Volunteering" and "Donations - In-kind" sections. It also explains at the top why cash donations are the most helpful way to help — how they allow relief supplies to be purchased locally, giving a "triple advantage ... of stimulating local economies, ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs." If you'd like to do more than simply make a donation, consider spreading the word via Facebook, Twitter or your email list, holding a fundraiser in your community, or post one of our banners on your website. Thank you! Please give today to help Haitian families.

main_phone: -> 1 (888) 256-1900
mission: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. -> Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

organization: Non-Profit Medical First Responders -> Non-Profit First Responders
mission: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. -> Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.