Haiti Earthquake Emergency Appeal
Just before 5pm on January 12 an earthquake devastated an already impoverished Haiti. With much of the city in ruins and a death toll estimated at over 200,000, the disaster is the country’s worst in over 200 years.
Donate Now
- Donate securely online
- Download a Haiti Earthquake Emergency Single donation form [Adobe PDF] and post it or fax it to us. Fax: (03) 9938 2088 / Post: Haiti Earthquake Emergency Appeal, Save the Children, Reply Paid 340, Fitzroy VIC 3065.
- Call our toll free number 1800 76 00 11 and donate over the phone.
- Donate in person at any NAB branch
Thank you to those who have offered to donate gifts-in-kind. While your offers are generous, at this stage the best way to help the children and families affected is to donate money. Please donate using the links above. Thank you.
There are still so many children and families in need of our help – if you can, please donate today and help provide the lifesaving assistance so desperately needed.
Personal Stories from Haiti
The Haiti Earthquake destroyed many lives and has severely impacted others. Here are some personal stories from mothers, sons, and street children of Port-au-Prince, who are attempting to re-piece their lives in a shattered country.
Naomi Dumere, 30: Naomi gave birth to her son Andgi Carvan on January 26th. They live in a small tent in what was a private park before the earthquake, but is now home to hundreds of families. Read Naomie's Story here.
Mealain Sama, 26: Mealain is eight months pregnant. She is sleeping on a sheet without shelter in the park near Theatre National, where Save the Children has a mobile medical center. Read Mealain's Story here.
Sophia Charlite, 23: Sophia is nine months pregnant and camping in the open air near Theatre National in Port-au-Prince, where Save the Children has a medical center. Read Sophia's Story here.
Simon, 18 and Daniel, 13: A group of around 15 children live on the street opposite the collapsed presidential palace. Several lost both parents in the earthquake. They sleep, find food and spend their days together. There are only boys in their group – most of the girls they knew died in the earthquake. The oldest, Simon, is 18; the youngest is Daniel, age 13.
Haiti Country Overview
Haiti occupies one-third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (the other two-thirds is occupied by the Dominican Republic), and is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with over half the nation’s population living in abject poverty. Haiti is vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Children are particularly at risk because of the lack of access to high-quality education and health care, and hunger is a stark reality for many. High infant mortality rates and the affects of HIV/AIDS are constant challenges for children and families in Haiti.
At a glance:
• Population 9,780,064#
• Haiti is ranked 74th among 108 developing countries in the United Nations Development Program's Human Poverty Index. *
• 80 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and 54 percent live in abject poverty.
• Just 52 percent of the population over age 15 can read and write.
• Only 54 percent of the population has access to safe water.
#Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators
* The Human Poverty Index measures the proportion of people below a threshold level in life expectancy, education and standard of living.
Image courtesy of Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/caribbean/haiti/
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