The Candor

Issue date: 3/2/10 Section: News

Media Credit: PHOTO FROM WWW.BLOGS.STATE.GOV US Soldiers provide aid to the families affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Media Credit: PHOTO FROM WWW.NYSENATE.GOV Buildings and homes were severely damaged in the quake.

Media Credit: PHOTO FROM WWW.BLOGS.STATE.GOV What was once someone's home no longer serves a purpose and left one of the many families without shelter.

On Jan. 12, an earthquake struck the densely populated Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti with an estimated 212,000 people killed, hundreds of thousand injured and nearly three million people in need of food, water, shelter and medical care, according to USAID FrontLines.

In an effort to help Haiti, President Barack Obama appointed Rajiv Shah, newly installed USAID Administrator, as the head of the US Emergency Response team with a pledged $100 million in aid, according to USAIDS FrontLines. However, three weeks after the earthquake, an estimated $296 million had been spent with an additional $464 million by civilian and military funds and not including the many millions by governments and the public.

Yet, even with all the donations, Haiti is still in dire need of much assistance.

That is where the Benedictine community comes to play. The "Giving Back to Haiti Clothing Drive" is being held through March 5, and anyone willing to make a donation is encouraged to. New and gently used clothing can be dropped off at the International Programs Office in the lower level of Krasa, Room 020.

Anyone that would like to make a monetary donation may do so at www.redcross.org, www.yele.org and www.unicefUSA.org. For more information on the "Giving Back to Haiti Clothing Drive," contact Daphne Francois at ext. 6342.

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