Year Up & Haiti Relief Effort

The Year Up family extends its thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti and to their families and loved ones affected by the earthquake that caused severe devastation. As we continue to lend our assistance to those in need during this difficult time—including our own Year Up community—we stand in solidarity with the Haitian people and global community to pledge our support as Haiti recovers and rebuilds from this tragedy. For those who would like to assist with relief efforts, we encourage you to support your local organizations, or below are a few suggestions for your consideration:

The American Red Cross has staff on the ground in Haiti and has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross, which is expected to lead the Red Cross response to the earthquake. The American Red Cross has made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama which would provide for basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. In addition, it is deploying a disaster management specialist to Haiti.  

Catholic Relief Services, an international humanitarian organization, has been working in Haiti for 55 years. CRS has made an initial commitment of $5 million for immediate use in the relief effort. CRS is mobilizing food and gearing up emergency capacity, and deploying prepositioned emergency shelter and hygiene kits in Haiti, as well as bringing supplies in from the neighboring Dominican Republic.  

Doctors Without Borders teams are treating hundreds of people injured in the quake and have been setting up clinics in tents to replace their own damaged medical facilities.  

Oxfam America has a staff of about 200 people on the ground in Haiti and a team of 15 highly-experienced emergency specialists based in the capital will be responding with public health, water and sanitation services to prevent the spread of waterborne disease.  

Partners In Health, with hospitals and highly trained medical staff in place in Haiti, is mobilizing resources and preparing plans to bring medical assistance and supplies to areas that have been hardest hit by the earthquake.  

UNICEF will deploy essential aid—including safe water, sanitation supplies, therapeutic foods, medical supplies and temporary shelter materials—as quickly as possible to assist with recovery efforts. UNICEF will also focus on children who have become separated from their families to protect them from harm or exploitation.