A massive 7.0 earthquake hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti on Tuesday. That was the first line from the first piece of news that I read regarding the tragedy that has affected the poorest country in the western hemisphere, where most of the 9 million population lives off of $2 a day.

I’ve read reports that there are an estimated 50,000-70,000 dead. Watching ABC World News last night, the estimate was higher, into the hundred thousands. There is only one working hospital. There is no structure or system of order as police officers are nowhere to be seen. It is assumed they have been killed or are dealing with their own family and local rescues.

Government officials are hard to get a hold of. Countries have sent plane after plane, boat after boat of aid, only for these efforts to be stalled. Some are waiting in the Haitian airport, while others are waiting in nearby countries because the airport and harbor have sustained major damages and fuel to make return trips is scarce. There is also no control tower for the airport and very little order.

Photo after photo on the Internet, there are streets lined with dead bodies, and those that are injured remain helpless because help can not reach them. One news article I read was titled ‘It became increasingly, brutally clear: Port-au-Prince is a tomb.’

After reading article after article and watching news video after news video a few questions come to mind.

How can I help?

For many of us, the quickest and most simple thing to do is donate. Mashable.com outlines some organizations who are taking donations in their article, Haiti Earthquake Relief: 9 Ways to Help Now. The article mentions AmeriCares, Yele Haiti, and the Google Support Disaster Relief.

But will donated money really help those in need and how quickly will those funds be dispersed?

Looking for that information online is somewhat challenging. Julie posted earlier this week about celebrity endorsements, and in this situation that’s what I’m kind of relying on. Sandra Bullock donated $1 million dollars toward relief efforts while Madonna contributed a quarter million. The organizations they trust? Doctors Without Borders (DWB) and Partners in Health (PIH).

Taking a quick glance at their websites, DWB displays an update post from yesterday regarding their efforts complete with a few photos while PIH states they have been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. PIH in particular looks well organized, outlining a call for volunteers and supply donations on top of the ability to accept monetary donations.

I may question how much of the money will reach Haiti, but am comforted that they are taking volunteers and supplies. Also, with being so established, it looks like their administrative process will be more smooth than others and relief efforts, supplies, and money will reach those that need it. This leads me to the last thought for this post.

Why isn’t aid reaching people faster?

I’ve read and watched so many reports about stalled supplies. Watching that report last night on ABC World News, there was video clip after video clip of Haitians needing rescue supplies, medical supplies, food, and water. The earthquake hit on Tuesday, why weren’t these people receiving the millions of dollars in aid and supplies that countries around the world were pledging?

As I mentioned in the first paragraph there is no system or order in Haiti right now. And for aid to reach people in a safe manner that won’t provoke rioting or violence, there is a process that needs to happen beforehand. First, the Haitian government needs to specify distribution spots. Then, the World Food Programme needs to come up with a distribution plan. Finally, the UN (including U.S. troops) will come up with a safety/security plan to execute distributions. I see all those people in need, and all those supplies just sitting on the tarmac, and I pray and hope these leaders get it together.

Also, because of the magnitude of the disaster and lack of communication, not only is the government system out of order, but relief groups are caught off guard. Flooded with donations, which have to go through a paper process, administrative delays could stalwart donated money.

There is nothing that we can do about the past. For now it is a race against time to help survivors and treat those that are injured. The every day person is stepping up across the world, opening up their pockets, giving their time, and providing what they can to help Haiti and its people. I’m hoping that relief efforts can be organized more quickly and those that need help will receive it. Sooner rather than later.

-Rae is a blogger for The Daily Vine. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.

Other Source/Related Articles

Security concerns cause doctors to leave hospital, quake victims, CNN

Dr. Sanjay Gupta's (CNN) Twitter

Streets of bodies in Haiti, Washington Post

Trapped Haitian Girl Dies Despite Rescue Effort, NPR