On Tuesday, January 12, a powerful earthquake battered the Caribbean nation of Haiti, devastating the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Thousands are feared dead from the immediate impact, with thousands more injured and an estimated 3 million Haitians may face hardship in the aftermath.

A Jewish presence in Haiti dates back to 1492; the interpreter on Christopher Columbus’ ship was Luis de Torres, a Converso. Today, Haiti’s Jewish population is approximately 25, centered around Port-au-Prince, the earthquake epicenter. Haiti and Israel have full diplomatic relations.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford has partnered with the Jewish Federations of North America and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide urgently needed aid and relief on a nonsectarian basis to victims of the devastating earthquake.

JDC affirms that 100% of funds donated through this emergency collection effort will be spent on Haiti relief. However, a $0.50 fee on text-message donations will be taken by the telecom provider.

HOW FEDERATION RELIEF FUNDS ARE HELPING HAITI: In partnership with JDC and The Jewish Federations of North America, short-term emergency needs in Haiti are being met by:

•  Mobilizing the Federations to raise funds and encouraging them to open local emergency mailboxes;
• Providing Federations with e-philanthropy tools to raise money for Haiti;
• Convening the Coalition of Jewish Disaster Relief to ensure coordination and cooperation, to maximize our impact, to ensure we meet medium-term and long-term needs and to avoid duplication of efforts;
• Funding the Israel Defense Forces field hospital,
  the first portable medical facility operational in Haiti. This facility includes 120 personnel: physicians, surgeons, obstetricians, nurses and others. Federations purchased medical equipment including infant incubators for a neonatal unit and orthopedic devices to support the IDF Medical Corps.;  
• Working with Heart-to-Heart International, a U.S. non-governmental organization, to provide emergency medical assistance, equipment and other services;
• Exploring partnerships with other organizations in Haiti;
• Working with IsraAID, which sent 15 members to Haiti to help with Operation Blessing, an effort funded by the American Jewish Committee and several Federations. An additional dozen people are expected in Haiti shortly;
• Working with USAID and Interaction to send additional medical personnel and supplies to Haiti;
• Coordinating with HIAS on immigrant protection issues for Haitians who are currently in the process of deportation;
• Working with the National Association of Jewish Chaplains to mobilize chaplains trained in disaster spiritual care and partnering with the American Red Cross for deployment.

ONLINE COVERAGE:

• Jewish Federations Raise $3.6 Million for Haiti Relief, Jewish Teens Join Effort (Jewish Federations)
• JDC, other US Jewish groups raise millions of dollars for victims (JPost)
• UJA Hope for Haiti Relief Fund exceeds $750,000 (UJA Toronto)
• Jewish Federations Have Raised More Than $2 million for Haiti (JTA)
• Haiti: Our Disproportionate Response (Jewish Week, NY)
• The Grief, Misery and Moments of Joy at Israel's Haiti Hospital (Forward)
• Israeli, Jewish Organizations at Forefront of Haiti
  Aid (eJewishPhilanthropy.com)
• ZAKA Delegation in Haiti Rescues 8, Searches for Missing Jewish Canadian (ZAKA)
• IDF Rescues Haitian in Collapsed Building, Sets
  Up Vital Field Hospital (IDF)
• Haiti Earthquake coverage: (CNN) 
• Live Updates on Earthquake impact (BBC)
• U.S. Coordinates Government-Wide Rescue Effort After Haiti Earthquake (FoxNews)
• 3 Israelis feared missing; team off to Haiti (YNetnews)
• Aiding Victims of Haiti Earthquake (JDC's No Passport Required blog)
• JDC's Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response page 
• Click here for more Haiti news coverage

Click here to give to the JDC Haiti Relief Fund, or use our Federation Finder to give via your local Jewish Federation. 

Or, via JDC’s HELP HAITI NOW Mobile Giving Campaign, text “JDCHAITI” to 8-5-9-4-4 on your mobile phone to donate $10.