Another earthquake hit the island of Hispaniola Wednesday morning; just eight days after a 7.0 quake devastated the nation of Haiti.

Initially today’s earthquake was calculated to be 6.1 on the Richter Scale, but later the United States Geological Survey downgraded it to 5.9. There were no reports of damage or injury.

Fearing another earthquake, many citizens were already outside their homes, but those who were inside woke up and quickly ran outside, according to reports on the ground.

Some of these adoptions were coordinated with Bethany Adoptive Services and God’s Littlest Angels. Bethany has offices in Michigan and Indiana, as well as overseas and other locations. My husband and I went through an international adoption with Bethany and know that normally it can take years, especially with all the paperwork and rules. Haiti is no exception. But recent earthquakes bring a special urgency to the adoption process.

We know a bit what it is like to live with uncertainty – and to feel blessed- because we brought our son home only 10 days before adoptions were shut down in his birth country (Romania). UNICEF, international adoption agencies, The Department of Homeland Security and others seem to be working hard to ensure that orphans in Haiti will be able to get to their prospective adoptive homes quickly.

If you haven’t donated a few dollars to help the people of Haiti, please consider giving what you can to your entity of choice that’s collecting for the disaster relief effort. If you’re not sure who to donate to, please consider Pan American Relief, the disaster relief arm of the Pan American Development Foundation, an excellent organization that does exceptional work in the region, including Cuba, and which we have worked with before. You can also donate to Pan American Relief via telephone: 1 (877) 572-4484.

Haiti earthquake victims photos

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Saturday was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of his Special Representative in Haiti, H{di Annabi, his deputy Luiz Carlos da Costa, and Acting UN Police Commissioner Doug Coates, who lost their lives in last Tuesday’s massive earthquake in Haiti.

He described him as “a mild man with the heart of a lion, he is remembered by those who knew him for his dry sense of humor, his integrity, and his unparalleled work ethic. He was the first in and the last out every day for his entire career.” Luiz Carlos da Costa, from Brazil, was for “many, many years a legend of UN peacekeeping operations,” Ban added. “His extraordinary professionalism and dedication were matched only by his charisma and warmth, and his devotion to his many friends. His legacy lives in the thousands that serve under the blue flag in every corner of the globe.” Ban said Doug Coates, a Canadian national, was also a “true friend of Haiti” and the United Nations. He was a great police officer who believed to his core in the importance of rule of law and justice.

After the Haiti Death Toll increased and could reach 200,000, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon felt sad by the death of UN officials. He confirmed that he was deeply sad by the deaths of his Special Representative in Haiti. Ban Ki-moon said that Doug Coates, a Canadian national, was a great police officer who believed to his core in the inportance of rule of law and justice, Doug Coates was also a “true friend of Haiti,” he added.

The Haitian Government confirmed the deaths one day after the earthquake and reported to have killed thousands of people but the UN said it took four days to confirm. Ban Ki-moon expected to travel to Haiti this Sunday to show his solidarity with the Government and to the Haitian people.

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Canadians flee Haiti as death toll nears 200,000

The shocks of earthquake were so strong that it turned the capital city into debris. The high rise buildings collapsed in seconds and became a dump of rubble. Every here and there dead bodies are lying. Under the wreckage of the buildings, there are human beings who have yet gone to eternal sleep.

It is a reality that nature, some times, becomes so furious that it turns the life of hundreds of thousands into death within seconds and no one can stand against it. The man has progressed a lot, but it can no way protect himself against the disasters of nature. When God wishes to destroy some city or country, no human effort can save it from the fury of God. Let us pray to Almighty Allah that He forgives our sins and send blessings on us.
The recent Haiti earthquake info tells us that after shocks of the earthquake have further shocked the situation and the death toll has been increased many times than with the first shocks of the earthquake.

The initial Haiti earthquake info speaks that the people of Haiti, who have survived the disastrous earthquake, are in dire need of immediate help. The recent reports show that so far a large number of countries have immediately announced aid packages for the earthquake hit people of Haiti. International Donor Agencies have also come forward to help out the victims in order to provide them shelter, food, medicine etc.

The death toll from devastating earthquake in Haiti may be as high as 50,000 to 100,000 people, the Pan American Health Organization said on Friday.

“A variety of sources are estimating the numbers (at) between 50,000 and 100,000,” Jon Andrus of PAHO, the Americas arm of the World Health organization, told a news briefing.

People can donate to Olathe-based Heart to Heart by going online to www.hearttoheart.org or by calling 913-764-5200.

•The Red Cross: The Greater Kansas City chapter of the Red Cross said contributions from the area could exceed $1 million.

The organization’s cell phone fundraising effort has raised $5 million so far. People can donate by texting the word “Haiti” to 90999, by going online to www. redcross.org or by calling 800-REDCROSS (800-733-2767).

•The Salvation Army: People can make $10 cell phone donations by texting “Haiti” to 52000. The charge will appear on the donors’ cell phone bills.

Credit card donors should call 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769) or go to www. salvationarmyusa.org. Send checks designated “Haiti Earthquake Relief” to 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111.

The Salvation Army is also helping people find relatives in Haiti through its SATERN locator system at www. satern.org.

•The United Way: United Way Worldwide is focusing on long-term relief in Haiti rather than short-term emergency aid.

To donate, go online to https://volunteer.united- e-way.org/uwwwdisaster/donate; send checks to United Way Worldwide, P.O. Box 630568, Baltimore, MD 21263-0568 (with “Fund” in the memo line); or text “HAITI” to 864833 (UNITED).

•Habitat for Humanity: The group’s goal is to provide shelter for displaced Haitians. Donate online at www.habitat.org.

•Take care: As with any disaster relief effort, officials warn donors to be cautious about where they send money. Sticking with well-established agencies is recommended.

In the USA, more than $1 million was raised Wednesday via text-messages sent to organizations the Red Cross and Yele Haiti foundation. ATT said they are NOT waiving txt msg fees however Verizon and tmobile have.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross International Response Fund has pledged $1 million dollars specifically for this disaster. Food, water and supplies are being transported into Haiti by a Boeing 707 and three C-130 Hercules.

Calls for donations spread through social media sites Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday as users asked their friends and strangers to help the victims of Haiti’s earthquake.

Amazon.com has added a box on its home page that customers can click to donate to the Haiti relief efforts of Mercy Corps, and anyone with a cell phone can donate $10 to the American Red Cross by sending a text message with the word “HAITI” to 90999.

* Lowe’s Cos Inc (LOW.N) is donating $1 million to the Red Cross’ efforts in Haiti.

* Rival Home Depot (HD.N),said it will give $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

* National Bank of Canada (NA.TO), which will contribute up to C$250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross.

* Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) said it would accept donations to the Canadian Red Cross in its bank branches, and would make a C$250,000 corporate contribution.

* Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) has committed $1 million in aid, with half going to the American Red Cross for its Haitian Relief and Development Fund, while cereal maker Kellogg Co(K.N) has pledged $250,000 to the American Red Cross relief effort.

Haiti Earthquake

The earthquake was centered just 10 miles southwest of the crowded and impoverished capital of Port-au-Prince. Making matters worse, the earthquake was relatively shallow at a depth of five miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Shallow earthquakes can cause more damage.

Substantial damages and casualties are expected following the quake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale, and two powerful aftershocks which followed. The country’s ambassador to the United States described it a “catastrophe of major proportions”.

A hospital and a three-storey building in Petionville have reportedly collapsed.

A reporter for the AFP agency said a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets of the impoverished country in panic. No details on causualties were immediately available. The epicentre of the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, only 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince. It was followed by two powerful aftershocks, measuring 5.9 and 5.5 on Richter scale.

The tsunami watch is in effect for Haiti, the neighbouring Dominican Republic, with which it shares the island of Hispaniola, Cuba and the Bahamas. A US government official in Haiti reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.