I know we are all shocked and horrified about the events in Haiti this week.

With Haiti foremost in all our minds today and as a member of Save the Children’s Board of Trustees, I wanted to update you on Save the Children’s rapidly evolving response.

As of Thursday, our staff in Port-au-Prince continues to travel about the city on foot and by motorcycle to make assessments. Although our office was damaged, staff is able to work out of our compound. Our office has become an unofficial center for the injured as neighbors, children and other aid workers have come there as the office is relatively undamaged compared to other locations. We are making the injured and displaced as comfortable as we can. As of last night we still had not been able to make contact with 23 of our 59 staff in the city, as the communications systems are all still primarily down. We are hopeful we will locate about the situation of all our staff in the coming days. Save the Children’s sub-offices in Jacmel, Massaide and Gonaives were largely unaffected and all staff are accounted for there.

Given the extreme needs of children and families, we are focusing on distribution of basic items, The first kits of hygiene and household supplies are being assembled in our Dominican Republic office and have gone today and landed in Port-au-Prince with our initial response team. This additional team is focused on the distribution of these badly needed items. Hygiene kits contain such items as toothbrushes, towels and soap, and family kits include blankets, mosquito nets, and cans for water. But thousands more kits will be needed

We have identified these areas of immediate priority: addressing shelter, health, water, sanitation, and child protection needs and, as conditions allow, the restoration of education for children.

This may very well become one of the largest Save the Children relief efforts ever in this hemisphere. Given the extraordinary need, I would be grateful if you can consider a gift to Save the Children and forward this information to any of your contacts or colleagues who may be interested in making a gift. You can visit our web site at http://www.savethechildren.org to get the most updated information and to make a donation.

With over 20 years on the ground in Haiti and the strength of a global alliance behind us, Save the Children is one of the top international responders and will be a permanent presence in the lives of children who have endured unspeakable adversity. I hope we can have your help in this latest disaster for children.

To donate:
http://www.savethechildren.org

Save The Children - Haiti Relieve
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880

(Please mention Dr. Reichman when contributing)