JRF is encouraging our member communities and people everywhere to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti due to the recent disasterous earthquake there. To expidite donations we are not setting up a separate donation fund, rather encouraging donations to our partner organizations who work directly on the ground in relief efforts.

With a per capita income of $3.60 per day, Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere. Thus, its population is especially vulnerable to natural disasters, such as the recent earthquake. Based on initial reports of widespread devastation and a high number of casualties, relief agencies anticipate that the immediate and long-term needs will be profound. Our prayers and our concrete actions are directed at this time to the many people in Haiti, both Haitian citizens and the many international visitors, aid workers and support people who have lost their lives and those who have lost loved ones. We also pray for the healing of those injured by the earthquake.

Prayers for the People of Haiti: http://jrf.org/Prayers-for-Haiti

Donations to AJWS's "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund," which can be made at www.ajws.org/haitiearthquake, will enable AJWS's network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments.

The Jewish Federations of North America is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide aid and relief to victims http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=213133.

The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, of which JRF is an executive committee member participating in decisions on relief funding, is also responding long-term: http://www.jdc.org/jcdr_about.html.

MAZON, an external affiliate with JRF, is also responding to the situation, http://mazon.org/2010/01/13/mazon-launches-emergency-haiti-fund/

Joint Distribution Committee: https://www.jdc.org/donation/donate.aspx

Gig Pomerantz, a member of Shir Hadash, Milwaukee, WI, is President and Executive Director of Youthaiti, http://www.youthaiti.org/

Beverly Bell- Blog from Haiti http://www.michaelmoore.com/blogger/BeverlyBell

For an extensive list of faith-based global relief organizations responding to the disaster see http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

Jewish Communities Response: http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/19/1010227/jewish-community-stands-behind-haiti

To find information about friends and family in Haiti: The U.S. State Department set up a toll-free number to call for information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747.