Downed communications, blocked roads and continuing aftershocks slowed relief efforts overnight in Haiti, where a 7.0 earthquake occurred on Tuesday.

Humanitarian organization World Vision had staff who unable to leave the agency’s Port-au-Prince office for several hours due to fallen debris in the roadways. “It felt as if a truck had hit a wall,” said World Vision staffer Magalie Boyer, of the initial tremor. “There is extensive damage in the city. People are getting ready to spend the night in the streets. They are not comfortable staying in their houses.”

World Vision Haiti is distributing first aid kits to survivors, along with basic materials such as soap, blankets, clothes and bottles of water as an initial response. Additional staff and volunteers from from less affected regions of Haiti are expected to arrive in the disaster zone as soon as possible.

Haiti is especially vulnerable to an earthquake of this magnitude because of poor infrastructure and extreme poverty, according to Edward Brown, World Vision’s relief director in the United States. Reaching hard-hit areas with supplies is expected to be a challenge due to damaged roads and infrastructure.

Cash donations are needed for the response and several organizations are posed to step in and help:

• American Red Cross – Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti.
• Action Against Hunger
• AmeriCares
• American Jewish World Service
• CARE
• Beyond Borders
• Catholic Relief Services
• Direct Relief International
• Childcare Worldwide
• Doctors Without Borders
• Feed My Starving Children
• Friends of WFP
• Haitian Health Foundation
• International Medical Corps
• Hope for Haiti
• International Relief Teams
• Medical Teams International
• Meds and Food for Kids
• Mercy Corps
• Oxfam
• Operation USA
• Partners in Health
• Samaritan’s Purse
• Save the Children
• UNICEF
• World Concern
• World Vision – Considering sponsoring a child in Haiti.
• Yele Haiti – Text “Yele” to 501 501 to donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s grassroots organization.

Those trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

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