Haiti Earthquake: Crisis and Response
Maureen Taft-Morales
Specialist in Latin American Affairs
Rhoda Margesson
Specialist in International Humanitarian Policy
January 15, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R41023
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Haiti Earthquake: Crisis and Response

Summary
The largest earthquake ever recorded in Haiti devastated parts of the country, including the
capital, on January 12, 2010. The quake, centered about 15 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince,
had a magnitude of 7.0. A series of strong aftershocks followed. Witnesses are describing the
damage as severe and catastrophic. Communication services were cut off by the earthquake, so
detailed information has been limited. Initial reports indicate that thousands of buildings
collapsed, leaving unknown numbers of people trapped, and tens of thousands of people homeless
in the streets. Early estimates of casualties are constantly being updated, but already reach into
the hundreds of thousands. According to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, “[o]f
Haiti’s 9 million people, initial reports suggest roughly a third may be affected by the disaster.”
About 45,000 U.S. citizens live in Haiti, and the Embassy has been asked to help account for
about 3,000 of them.
Describing conditions in his country as “unimaginable” following the earthquake, President Rene
Preval appealed for international assistance. The country’s top priority was to conduct search and
rescue operations for survivors. Other priorities included an offshore vessel medical unit and
electricity generation capability. The government also requested communications equipment so
that government officials can better function and coordinate response efforts. The Haitian
government, the United Nations, and donor representatives met in Haiti on January 14 to
coordinate their efforts.
The arrival of humanitarian supplies has begun, but access to Port-au-Prince and the distribution
of aid to people in need is difficult and hampered by a number of significant challenges that are
impeding rescue efforts and movement. People are gathering in open spaces and some are
reportedly leaving Port-au-Prince for other areas in Haiti.
On January 12, 2010, President Obama assembled heads of agencies to begin working
immediately on a coordinated response to the disaster. On January 13, 2010, U.S. Ambassador to
Haiti Kenneth H. Merten issued a disaster declaration, and the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) authorized
$50,000 for the initial implementation of an emergency response program. The U.S. embassy in
Haiti also began facilitating the evacuation of U.S. citizens. On January 14, President Obama
announced $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Haiti to provide significant resources to
meet the immediate needs on the ground. The relief effort is expected to last for many months,
although it is anticipated that recovery and reconstruction will begin as soon as possible in a
parallel effort.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 13, 2010, that it is
temporarily halting the deportation of Haitians. On January 15, 2010, DHS Secretary Janet
Napolitano granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months to Haitian nationals who
were in the United States as of January 12, 2010.
The focus of this report is on the immediate crisis in Haiti as a result of the earthquake and the
U.S. and international response to date.

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Contents
Current Conditions...................................................................................................................... 1
Haitian Government Response .................................................................................................... 2
Humanitarian Relief Operation.................................................................................................... 3
Status of the Relief Operation................................................................................................ 5
U.S. Response............................................................................................................................. 6
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance ............................................................................................... 6
USAID ........................................................................................................................... 6
Department of Defense ................................................................................................... 7
Overall U.S. FY2010 Assistance ........................................................................................... 8
International Response ................................................................................................................ 8
Sources of International Humanitarian Assistance ........................................................... 8
U.N. Consolidated Appeals Process............................................................................... 10
Response of International Financial Institutions......................................................................... 10
Multilateral Lending ........................................................................................................... 10
Debt Relief ......................................................................................................................... 11
Regional response ..................................................................................................................... 12
Implications for Haiti ................................................................................................................ 12
Congressional Concerns ............................................................................................................ 13
Funding .............................................................................................................................. 13
Immigration ........................................................................................................................ 14
Constituent Concerns and Private Charities ......................................................................... 14
Legislation in the 111th Congress ............................................................................................... 15
Regarding U.S. Citizens in Haiti ................................................................................... 21
Haitian Citizens in the U.S. ........................................................................................... 21

Figures
Figure 1. Haiti Earthquake Epicenter ........................................................................................... 4
Figure A-1. An Estimate of the Population in Haiti and Surrounding Areas exposed to
Ground Shaking Caused by the January 12, 2010 Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake.......................... 17

Tables
Table 1. Donor Contributions and Pledges to Haiti in Response to the January 12, 2010
Earthquake............................................................................................................................... 8

Appendixes
Appendix A. Exposed Population .............................................................................................. 17
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Appendix B. The U.S. Government Emergency Response Mechanism for International
Disasters ................................................................................................................................ 19
Appendix C. How to Search for or Report on Individuals in Haiti.............................................. 21
Appendix D. How to Contribute to Relief Efforts ...................................................................... 22
Appendix E. Links for Further Information ............................................................................... 23

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 25
Key Policy Staff........................................................................................................................ 26

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Current Conditions
The largest earthquake ever recorded in Haiti devastated parts of the country, including the
capital, on January 12, 2010. The quake, centered about 15 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince,
had a magnitude of 7.0. A series of strong aftershocks followed.1 Witnesses are describing the
damage as severe and catastrophic. Communication services were cut off by the quake, so
detailed information is difficult to come by. Initial reports indicate that thousands of buildings
collapsed, leaving unknown numbers of people trapped, and tens of thousands of people homeless
in the streets. Early estimates of casualties are constantly being updated, but already reach into
the hundreds of thousands. According to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, “[o]f
Haiti’s 9 million people, initial reports suggest roughly a third may be affected by the disaster.”2
About 45,000 U.S. citizens live in Haiti, and the Embassy has been asked to help account for
about 3,000 of them. Aftershocks have the potential to cause further damage, especially to
structures weakened by the initial large earthquake; 14 aftershocks greater than magnitude 5 and
36 greater than magnitude 4 were felt within one day, and they could continue for weeks. In
addition, steep slopes and rugged topography near the epicenter increase the chances for
earthquake- and aftershock-triggered landslides, which pose a further hazard to structures and
people downslope from landslide-prone regions.3
Recovery efforts will be made extremely difficult by the loss of personnel and infrastructure that
would be part of a recovery effort. Among the missing and dead are Haitian government officials
and international aid personnel, including many United Nations personnel. Housing, hospitals,
schools, and many government buildings have collapsed. Basic services such as electricity and
water are almost completely disrupted. Major transportation routes are damaged and/or blocked.
Although the airport continues to function, the control tower was destroyed. The main port
suffered heavy damage.
The roof of the Presidential Palace collapsed; President Preval is safe, but was initially unable to
communicate with his Cabinet. The Parliament building collapsed, with some Members trapped
inside and others dead. Buildings of the Ministries of Finance, Public Works, and Justice are also
damaged or destroyed, and government officials report having difficulty finding places to meet.
The United Nations, which has a strong presence in Haiti, and would be at the forefront of on-the-
ground response for security and humanitarian assistance, suffered heavy losses as well. Its
headquarters collapsed, and about 300 U.N. personnel are unaccounted for, including the head of
the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Special Representative Hedi Annabi, his
deputy, Luiz Carlos da Costa, and other civilian staff and peacekeepers. U.N. Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon sent Assistant Secretary General Edmond Mulet to Haiti on January 13 to direct the
U.N.’s immediate response efforts; Mulet is a former Special Representative of the Secretary
General for MINUSTAH.

1U.S. Geological Survey http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rja6.php, Jan. 13, 2010.
2 United Nations, Secretary-General, Briefing General Assembly on Haiti Disaster, Announces Release of $10 million
in emergency Funds to Kick-Start Response, SG/SM/12701; GA/10912, New York, NY, January 13, 2010.
3See CRS Report RL33861, Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research, by Peter Folger for further
information.
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All of this damage is sustained in a country that already was socially and ecologically at risk.
Haiti suffers massive and deep poverty. Over one-half of the population (54%) lives in extreme
poverty, living on less than $1 a day; 78% live on $2 or less a day, according to the World Bank.
Hunger is also widespread: 81% of the national population does not get the minimum daily ration
of food defined by the World Health Organization. Haiti was already in an acute environmental
crisis. Following the hurricanes of 2008, the President of the Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB), Luis Moreno, called Haiti the most fragile of IDB's member countries, saying that no other
nation in Latin America and the Caribbean is as vulnerable to economic shocks and natural
disasters as is Haiti. The United Nations already designated Haiti as one of the 50 “least
developed countries” in the world, facing a higher risk than other countries of failing to come out
of poverty, and therefore needing the highest degree of attention from the international
community.4
Prior to the earthquake, the international community was providing extensive development and
humanitarian assistance to Haiti. With that assistance, the Haitian government had made
significant progress in recent years in many areas of its development strategy, including security;
judicial reform; macroeconomic management; procurement processes and fiscal transparency;
increased voter registration; and jobs creation. It had also made progress in providing broader
access to clean water and other services. Parliamentary elections were scheduled for February
2010. These presumably will be delayed.
The U.N. Secretary-General had commissioned a report, published in January 2009, that
recommended a strategy to move Haiti beyond recovery to economic security.5 Indeed, the U.N.
Security Council conducted a fact-finding visit to Haiti in March 2009, and concluded that there
was “a window of opportunity to enable the consolidation of stability and the undertaking of a
process of sustainable development.”6
The destruction of Haiti’s nascent infrastructure and other extensive damage caused by January’s
earthquake will set back Haiti’s development significantly. U.N. Special Envoy and former
President Bill Clinton said that Haiti’s long-term development plans “will need to be amended ...
but they cannot be abandoned.”7
Haitian Government Response
Describing conditions in his country as “unimaginable” following the earthquake, President
Preval appealed for international assistance. The country’s top priority was to conduct search and
rescue operations for survivors. Other priorities included an offshore vessel medical unit and
electricity generation capability. The government also requested communications equipment so
that government officials can better function and coordinate response efforts. The Haitian
government, the United Nations, and donor representatives met in Haiti on January 14 to
coordinate their efforts.

4 United Nations Office for Least Developed Countries. Facts About Least Developed Countries (LDCs) available at
http://www.unohrlls.org/UserFiles/File/Publications/Factsheet.pdf, accessed January 15, 2010.
5 Paul Collier, “Haiti: From Natural Catastrophe to Economic Security, A Report for the Secretary-General of the
United Nations,” Jan. 2009, available at http://www.securitycouncilreport.org.
6 “Haiti: UN Council Mission reports strides in security, worrisome poverty,” States News Service, Mar. 19, 2009.
7 Bill Clinton, "How We Can Help Rebuild Haiti's Promise," The Washington Post, January 14, 2010.
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Prior to this disaster, the World Bank and others were working with the Haitian government to
incorporate disaster risk management into Haiti’s overall development strategy and to develop its
capacity for disaster response. The capacity was still in its early stages, however, and the focus of
much of its risk management efforts was not geared toward earthquakes, but toward hurricanes,
which are the most common cause of natural disasters on the island. The last major earthquake in
Haiti was 150 years ago, in 1860.
Humanitarian Relief Operation
The massive humanitarian relief operation already underway in Haiti is hampered by a number of
significant challenges, including a general lack of transportation, extremely limited
communications systems, and damaged infrastructure. In many parts of Port-au-Prince, roads are
ruptured or blocked by collapsed buildings, debris, bodies, and people seeking open space,
impeding rescue efforts and movement. Lack of electricity and clean water is a major problem.
Hospitals that remain functioning have reached full capacity and people are also being treated in
unsanitary makeshift areas. Fuel shortages also have been reported, which affect generator power
for life-saving equipment.
The priority is search and rescue assistance, including teams with heavy-lift equipment and
medical assistance and supplies. In addition, there is a critical need for food, clean water and
sanitation, and emergency shelter. In-depth assessments are necessary to obtain a more detailed
understanding of the situation on the ground. Until assessments can be completed, the
humanitarian needs cannot be fully determined. The arrival of humanitarian supplies has begun,
but access to Port-au-Prince and the distribution of aid to people in need is difficult. People are
gathering in open spaces and some are reportedly leaving Port-au-Prince for other areas in Haiti.
There are increasing concerns about security and potential for looting and violence.
The relief effort is expected to last for many months, although it is anticipated that recovery and
reconstruction will begin as soon as possible in a parallel effort.

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Figure 1. Haiti Earthquake Epicenter


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Status of the Relief Operation
The headquarters of the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was reportedly very
badly damaged. Thirty-six military and civilian MINUSTAH personnel have died and more than
300 staff are reported missing or remain unaccounted for. U.N. staff are being deployed to Haiti
to increase capacity. MINUSTAH is providing search and rescue operations, security, and
assistance. With Mr. Hedi Annabi still missing, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sent Edmond
Mulet, former Special Representative to Haiti and current Assistant Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations, to take command of MINUSTAH and coordinate the relief effort. The
United Nations typically works with government ministries on how best to provide assistance. On
January 15, 2010, Mr. Mulet met with President Preval to discuss the status of the rescue
operation and to address issues of law and order.
The United Nations has also deployed Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and U.N.
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) teams. The United Nations
Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Kim Bolduc, was deployed to Haiti in November 2009.
Traditionally, soon after a disaster, a Humanitarian Country Team, which includes U.N. agencies,
international NGOs, national NGOs, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as
observers, will be assembled. In Haiti, UNOCHA is helping to coordinate the 27 search and
rescue teams and assistance effort while focusing on other humanitarian priorities. The World
Food Program (WFP) is supporting immediate relief efforts and working on emergency logistics
and telecommunications. Together with the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot
(UNHRD), they are providing food from El Salvador as well as distributing relief supplies and
food from a depot in Panama. The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating medical
assistance, particularly victim care. The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is focusing on
identifying and reuniting children with their families.
Humanitarian relief sectors are typically established during humanitarian crises to enable the U.N.
Humanitarian Country Team to coordinate partners, prioritize resources, and facilitate planning.
To date in Haiti, relief sectors have been organized into five clusters led by various agencies,
including:8
• Emergency Shelter and Non-food Items (International Organization for
Migration)
• Food Assistance (WFP)
• Health (WHO)
• Logistics (WFP)
• Water/Sanitation (UNICEF)
A number of other clusters are expected to be mobilized in the coming days. Various international
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were already operating in Haiti before the

8 The head of each cluster (indicated in parentheses) reports to the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and works in
partnership with all relevant actors in that particular sector.
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earthquake are mobilizing to respond to the crisis. Reportedly hundreds of local staff are assisting
with the relief effort.9
In addition, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is
working with the Haitian Red Cross Society (HRCS) and other national red cross societies,
including the American Red Cross, to provide assistance to earthquake survivors. The IFRC is
coordinating efforts with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is focused
on medical assistance, tracing the missing and helping to restore family links. The ICRC is also
helping with the identification and collection of mortal remains.
U.S. Response
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance
On January 13, 2010, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth H. Merten issued a disaster declaration,
and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA), authorized $50,000 for the initial implementation of an emergency
response program. (See Appendix B for further information about the U.S. Government
humanitarian response mechanism.) The embassy also facilitated the evacuation of U.S. citizens
and issued a travel warning.
On January 14, 2009, President Obama announced $100 million in humanitarian assistance to
Haiti to provide significant resources to meet the immediate needs on the ground. At present,
there is reportedly some carryover funding expected from the International Disaster Assistance
Account as well as the P.L. 480 food aid account. In addition, money in the FY2010 budget will
be made available.
The U.S. government has set up an interagency task force to coordinate and facilitate the
humanitarian response to the earthquake in Haiti through the Washington, DC-based Response
Management Team headed by USAID/OFDA. At this point, the overall focus of the U.S.
government’s response is search and rescue, logistics and infrastructure support, provision of
assistance where possible, and conducting needs assessments. The activities of some of the key
agencies—USAID and DOD—are described below.10
USAID
USAID/OFDA has deployed a 17-member Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Haiti.
The Washington, DC, Response Management Team is also in place to support the USAID/DART,
which will focus on assessing humanitarian needs and coordinating assistance with the U.S.
Embassy in Haiti, the Government of Haiti, and the international community. The Fairfax Urban
Search and Rescue Team has deployed 72 staff, and Los Angeles County has also sent teams
along with support staff, both including search and rescue canines and rescue equipment. Food

9 The airport in the Dominican Republic is also being used as a humanitarian staging area to help with the coordination
effort and allow for relief teams and supplies to get to Haiti.
10 This section does not include all agencies responding to the crisis, such as the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), which has also sent six search and rescue teams.
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aid through USAID’s Food for Peace Program (FFP) will come from prepositioned stocks in
Texas. In coordination with the WFP, USAID has food aid for 1.2 million people over the next
two weeks.
Department of Defense11
In response to the crisis in Haiti, the Department of Defense (DOD) has indicated that a broad
range of military assets are being deployed to support U.S. and international assistance efforts.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), located in Miami, FL, is overseeing the Department’s
response efforts. SOUTHCOM is well-experienced in this type of operation, having supported 14
relief missions in the Latin American and Caribbean area since 2005. SOUTHCOM’s initial
assessment team consisting of military engineers, operational planners, and command and control
communication specialists has deployed to Haiti. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
personnel dispatched to the Port-au-Prince International Airport have restored air traffic control
capability and are enabling round-the-clock airfield operations. These personnel from Air Force
720th Special Tactics Group can also provide emergency medical services and conduct search and
rescue missions.
For updates, see SOUTHCOM at http://www.southcom.mil/appssc/index.php; the U.S. Air Force
Special Operations Command at http://www.afsoc.af.mil/; and the Air Force 720th Special Tactics
Group at http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=223.
The U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command is providing transport aircraft, including C-17
Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules. Air National Guard units from Ohio and Puerto Rico have
also provided transport aircraft and, according to Air Force officials, additional transport aircraft
will be provided as needed.
For updates, see the Air Force Air Mobility Command at http://www.amc.af.mil/.
The U.S. Navy has deployed eight ships to assist relief efforts: the nuclear aircraft carrier USS
Carl Vinson, augmented with additional helicopters; the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan; the
dock-landing ships USS Fort McHenry and USS Carter Hall; the cruiser USS Normandy; the
destroyer USS Underwood; the frigate USS Higgins; and the hospital ship USNS Comfort. The
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command is expected to deploy units that can provide explosive
ordnance disposal, maritime and riverine security, diving/salvage experts, and naval construction
personnel. U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft have performed initial aerial surveys of the earthquake
damage to assist remediation efforts.
For updates, see the USS Carl Vinson at http://www.cvn70.navy.mil/; the USS Bataan at
http://www.bataan.navy.mil/default.aspx; the USS Fort McHenry at http://www.fort-
mchenry.navy.mil/default.aspx; the USS Carter Hall at http://www.carter-hall.navy.mil/
default.aspx; the USS Normandy at http://www.normandy.navy.mil/default.aspx; the USS
Underwood at http://www.underwood.navy.mil/default.aspx; the USS Higgins at
http://www.higgins.navy.mil/default.aspx; the USNS Comfort at http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/
usnscomfort/Pages/default.aspx; and the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command at
http://www.necc.navy.mil/.

11 Prepared by Stephen Bowman, CRS Specialist in National Security, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division.
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The amphibious assault ship and the dock-landing ships are transporting the 22nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit (2,000 personnel) and the initial company of an expected brigade of the 82nd
Airborne Division (3,400 personnel) to conduct security/stabilization operations. Reportedly up to
10,000 members of the military will soon be deployed to Haiti.
For updates, see the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/22ndMEU/;
and the 82nd Airborne Division at http://www.bragg.army.mil/82DV/.
The U.S. Coast Guard has undertaken the air-medical evacuation of injured U.S. civilian
personnel to the Guantanamo Naval Station, supplied two C-130 transport aircraft, and deployed
four cutters: USS Forward, USS Mohawk, USS Valiant, USS Tahoma.
Overall U.S. FY2010 Assistance
In the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-117) Congress provided “not less than
$295,530,000” for assistance for Haiti, about $2.7 million more than the Administration had
requested. Congress also included Haiti in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, to provide
equipment and training to combat drug trafficking and related violence and organized crime, and
for judicial reform, institution building, education, anti-corruption, rule of law activities, and
maritime security.
The Administration had requested $293 million in assistance for Haiti, including $21 million and
$91 million for Global Health and Child Survival under USAID and State Department,
respectively; $125 million in Economic Support Funds; $35.5 million in P.L. 480 food aid; $18.5
million for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; $0.22 million for International
Military Education and Training, and $1.6 million in Foreign Military Financing. Of that funding,
$1.4 million was requested for Disaster Readiness programs. (See “Legislation in the 111th
Congress” section below.)
International Response
Sources of International Humanitarian Assistance
So far, through governments and the private sector, the international community has pledged
millions of dollars in aid, materials, and technical support. Table 1 highlights donor contributions
and in-kind pledges.
Table 1. Donor Contributions and Pledges to Haiti in Response to the January 12,
2010 Earthquake
Country/Agency
Monetary Pledge
Donor
(USD)
In-kind Support Pledge
Australia $9
million

Brazil
$10 million
28 tons of drinking water and food
Britain
$9.92 million
government assessment team, search-and-rescue team,
doctors, firefighters, 10 tons of rescue equipment
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Country/Agency
Monetary Pledge
Donor
(USD)
In-kind Support Pledge
Canada
$5 million
search and rescue team, medical personnel, engineers,
helicopters, supplies and equipment, two navy ships and 500
Canadian troops
Chile

15 metric tons of food and medicines, search-and rescue team,
20 doctors
China
$1 million
60-member team of medical staff, rescuers and engineers
Costa Rica

engineers, health care workers, doctors, and disaster experts
Colombia
rescue
team
Cuba 30
doctors
France

three military transport planes, aid supplies, and 100 troops
Germany
$2.2 million
government assessment team
Guatemala
rescue
team
Italy emergency
medical
team
Israel

220 medical personnel
Iceland

search and rescue team
Japan $5
million

Mexico rescue
team
Netherlands $2.9
million

New Zealand
$1 million

Norway $5.3
million

Peru

two planes with 50 metric tons of humanitarian aid, mainly
food, 18 doctors and nurses, two field hospitals
Russia

mobile air hospital, 20 doctors, rescue team,
South Korea

emergency relief workers and supplies
Spain

40 disaster relief experts, surgeons, medical equipment, field
hospitals, sending 150 tons of humanitarian aid to its logistics
base in Panama
United States
$100 million
search-and-rescue team, ships, transport planes, helicopters
and thousands of Marines
Venezuela

search and rescue team, including doctors and firefighters
European Union
$4.3 million

Inter-American
$200 million

Development Bank
Pan American

shelter kits with tents, tarps, water purification tables; food;
Development Foundation
medical supplies; family tool kits, including shovels;
telecommunications equipment
Pan American Health

12-member team of health and logistics experts, including
Organization (PAHO) and
specialists in mass casualty management, coordination of
World Health
emergency health response and the management of dead
Organization (WHO)
bodies
United Nations (CERF)
$10 million

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Country/Agency
Monetary Pledge
Donor
(USD)
In-kind Support Pledge
United Nations World

86 metric tons of ready-to-eat meals and high energy biscuits
Food Program
to feed 30,000 for up to 7 days; first aid kits and satellite
phones for Rapid Response Teams
World Bank
$100 million

Source: Factiva and LEXISNEXIS.com news databases.
Prepared by Julissa Gomez-Granger and Anne Leland, Knowledges Services Group, Foreign Affairs, Defense and
Trade Division.
U.N. Consolidated Appeals Process
Under the U.N. Consolidated Appeals Process, on January 15, 2010, the U.N. Humanitarian
Country Team in Haiti issued a Flash Appeal for emergency financial assistance in the amount of
$562 million. The funds will initially support emergency food aid, health, water, sanitation, early
recovery, emergency education, and other key needs. The U.N.’s Central Emergency Response
Fund (CERF) initially made available $10 million and this number is expected to increase.
Response of International Financial Institutions12
Multilateral Lending
The multilateral development banks (MDBs) have been active in Haiti in recent years, providing
debt relief, loans, and grants. After the earthquake, the World Bank announced $100 million in
emergency grant funding to support recovery and reconstruction, in addition to its existing $308
million portfolio of grants projects in Haiti.13 The existing projects are in areas including disaster
risk management, infrastructure, community-driven development, education, and economic
governance. The World Bank is the only international financial institution providing all of its
assistance as grants, thus ensuring that Haiti does not accumulate any additional debt to it. In
addition to World Bank programs, the World Bank administers several donor-funded trust funds.
Since 2003, trust funds administered by the World Bank have given more than $55 million to
Haiti.
On January 12, 2010, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Luis Alberto Moreno
announced a $200,000 emergency grant for immediate relief aid. The IDB is Haiti’s largest
multilateral donor, with a portfolio of programs worth over $700 million, as of the end of 2009.14
These programs include both grants and concessional loans. Of this amount, $330 million is
undisbursed, of which $90 million could be quickly redirected to high-priority civil works and
reconstruction projects, according to the IDB.15 IDB management also announced that it

12 Prepared by Martin Weiss, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade
Division.
13 “World Bank to Provide an Additional $100 Million to Haiti, Following Earthquake,” World Bank, January 13, 2010.
14 “December 2009 – IDB Portfolio in Haiti, Inter-American Development Bank, December 17, 2009.
15 “Haiti earthquake: IDB redirects resources for emergency assistance and reconstruction” Inter-American
Development Bank, January 13, 2010.
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anticipates the approval of up to $128 million in already-planned grants, potentially providing
more resources for reconstruction.
Haiti receives concessional loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as from the
development banks.16 In response to the earthquake, the IMF announced it will provide $100
million in additional concessional loans, following approval from its member countries. This
would be additional debt incurred by the country. Including the new lending, total Haiti debt to
the IMF would be $277.9 million. Of this amount, close to $170 million in concessional lending
to Haiti has already been disbursed. 17
Debt Relief
Haiti completed the multilateral Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in
June 2009, making it eligible to receive debt relief from the multilateral and some bilateral
creditors. Under the terms of their participation in the Enhanced HIPC program, the World Bank
provided Haiti debt relief for debts incurred through December 2003. According to the World
Bank, debt relief under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative amounts to $140.3 million. Haiti has no
outstanding debt to the World Bank.
The IDB, in September 2009, provided $511 million in debt relief. Debts eligible for cancellation
were those incurred through 2004 (compared to 2003 in the case of IDA). According to the IDB,
Haiti currently owes $429 million (principal-only) to the IDB. This includes $305 million from
loans made in 2005 and 2006, after the debt cancellation cut-off date of December 31, 2004, and
$124 million from undisbursed balances of loans made before the cut-off date. Beginning in
2009, Haiti’s payments on its debt to the IDB have been made by a U.S.-supported trust fund that
currently amounts to $20 million.
Haiti has also received debt relief from its bilateral creditors. Haiti’s completion of the HIPC
program triggered debt relief of $62.7 million by the Paris Club group of official creditors. Haiti’s
Paris Club creditors agreed to go beyond the requirements of the HIPC program, however, and
provide $152 million in additional debt cancellation, thus completely cancelling Haiti’s external
Paris Club debt of $214 million. That said, Paris Club debt relief is not automatic. Creditor
nations collectively sign bilateral agreements with the debtor nation, giving effect to the
multilateral debt relief agreement. On September 18, 2009, the United States cancelled $12.6
million, totaling 100% of Haiti’s outstanding debt to the United States. Several countries,
however, have not yet completed their debt relief agreements. While most Paris Club members
have implemented the sum of their Paris Club debt relief, France has only cancelled €4 million
($5.75 million) of €58 million ($83.36 million) owed to them by Haiti. The French Finance
Minister asked on January 15, 2010, that debt relief be sped up, and that Taiwan and Venezuela,
two of Haiti’s largest non-Paris Club creditors, forgive Haiti’s debts owed to them, $71.2 million
and $112 million respectively.

16 Financing under the IMF’s concessional lending facility, the Extended Credit Facility, carries a zero interest rate,
with a grace period of 5½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years. The Fund reviews the level of interest rates for all
concessional facilities under the PRGT every two years.
17 “IMF to Provide US$100 Million in Emergency Assistance to Haiti,” International Monetary Fund, January 14,
2009.
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Regional response
Latin American countries have responded to Haiti’s crisis with immediate provision of emergency
supplies and personnel and pledges of financial and other assistance for its long-term recovery.
Members of the Organization of American States (OAS) pledged humanitarian, financial and
other support to Haiti, and its Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, will travel
to Haiti as soon as possible. The OAS Group of Friends of Haiti met on January 14 to coordinate
search and rescue efforts, prompt donations, and discuss ways to promote recovery.
The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Haiti is also a member, mobilized
its disaster emergency response system to assist Haiti, and several members have sent emergency
supplies or promised financial assistance. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management
Agency has assembled a response team to assess conditions in Haiti as well.18 Some CARICOM
employees already working in Haiti were missing as of January 13.
Many countries in the region already have peacekeeping troops in Haiti serving with
MINUSTAH. Brazil leads the U.N. peacekeeping mission, and had 1,284 uniformed personnel
already serving there as of December 2009.
Implications for Haiti
The impact of the January earthquake on Haiti’s people, government, security, and economy is
catastrophic. Haiti had built a foundation of social stability over the past five years. That stability
was fragile, however, and a disaster of this proportion will test it to the extremes. In the initial
days after the earthquake struck, there was chaos, but violence was reportedly sporadic. As
hundreds of thousands of people remain without food, water, shelter, and medical services, the
challenge of maintaining order will be an enormous task. Those same conditions, along with a
limited ability to respond to them, will create a precarious environment.
Haiti already had a development and poverty reduction strategy in place, supported by the
international donor community. The government had been making strides toward meeting goals
of that strategy, and analysts were viewing its potential for sustainable development with
optimism. Investors had begun to return to Haiti and the country was promoting its economic
development. The earthquake has reversed years of progress. Haiti’s strategy will therefore need
to be reviewed, revised, and built upon to incorporate new conditions and needs.
The destruction of buildings, equipment, and loss of skilled personnel has drastically reduced the
ability of the government, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to
respond rapidly. These losses, plus the difficulty of delivering and transporting material supplies,
will hinder delivery of services. In much of the country the government did not provide basic
services prior to the earthquake; what little basic services were available, in terms of water,
health, and electricity, were mostly destroyed. The lack of medicines or medical treatment, water,
and adequate sanitation in Haiti has been exacerbated by the earthquake and may increase the
spread of disease.

18 Caribbean Media Corporation, "Caribbean heads of state to visit Haiti to assess quake damage," BBC Monitoring
Americas, January 14, 2010.
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Parliamentary elections were scheduled for February 2010. These presumably will be delayed,
which may add to the political tensions already evident before the earthquake over the exclusion
of several parties from the process. The elections were seen as part of the process of consolidating
Haiti’s democratic institutions.
Migration may become another challenging issue both domestically and internationally, as people
try to leave Port-au-Prince for unaffected rural areas, the Dominican Republic, nearby islands, or
the United States.
Congressional Concerns
Many Members have already expressed a strong desire to support Haiti and provide it with
substantial assistance. The 111th Congress gave bipartisan support to assist the Préval government
in the last session, and has continued to respond in that spirit to the crisis generated by the
January earthquake. Fourteen Senators have requested that the chamber’s leaders “include robust
emergency funds to assist Haiti in the next legislative vehicle before the Senate.”19
Funding
An immediate concern of many is whether there is sufficient funding for the U.S. emergency
response. President Obama announced the United States would provide $100 million in
immediate aid for Haiti. That aid is drawn from existing funds from across government agencies.
Once USAID and other assessment teams are able to determine the extent of damage, estimates
for the amount of immediate emergency and humanitarian aid needed will be determined. Other
donors, such as international organizations, international financial institutions, other
governments, non-governmental organizations, and the public, are also making substantial
donations toward meeting that need.
If funding for the immediate emergency and humanitarian response is met, Congress will likely
consider a major request to help fund Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction, which will require even
greater funding. Congress may reevaluate and revise priorities and approaches of U.S. assistance
to Haiti in light of the changed conditions there. Issues that have previously concerned Congress
have included democracy building, development assistance and poverty reduction, security
enhancement and stability, counternarcotics efforts, police and judicial reform, and disaster
recovery and prevention.
Humanitarian assistance generally receives strong bipartisan congressional support and the
United States is typically a leader and major contributor to relief efforts in humanitarian
disasters.20 When disasters require immediate emergency relief, the Administration may fund
pledges by depleting its disaster accounts intended for worldwide use throughout a fiscal year. In
order to respond to future humanitarian crises, however, these resources would need to be
replenished or it could curtail U.S. capacity to respond to other emergencies. These accounts are
typically restored through supplemental appropriations.

19 Tim Starks, "Lawmakers Look to Aid Haiti Following Earthquake," CQ Today Online News, January 13, 2010.
20 For background information see CRS Report RL33769, International Crises and Disasters: U.S. Humanitarian
Assistance, Budget Trends, and Issues for Congress, by Rhoda Margesson.
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Another issue of immediate concern to Congress is likely to involve arrangements regarding
elections. Haiti was due to hold parliamentary elections in February 2010. In all likelihood they
will be postponed, considering the extent of losses suffered by the Haitian government and the
UN, which was to provide security and technical support, and massive humanitarian needs
generated by the earthquake.
Immigration21
The devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti prompted calls by some Members of Congress
for the Obama Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians in the
United States at the time of the earthquake. The issue of Haitian TPS has arisen several times in
the past few years, but the previous Administration did not grant TPS or other forms of blanket
relief to Haitians, and at that time, Congress opted not to enact legislation that would have
provided TPS to Haitians, such as H.R. 522 in the 110th Congress. The scale of the current
humanitarian crisis led the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to announce on January 13,
2010, that it is temporarily halting the deportation of Haitians. On January 15, 2010, DHS
Secretary Janet Napolitano granted TPS for 18 months to Haitian nationals who were in the
United States as of January 12, 2010. The Haitian Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 144), which
would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate TPS for Haitians, was introduced
last year on January 6, 2009.
Many Haitians in areas devastated by the earthquake are reportedly moving to rural areas of the
country. Congress may monitor immigration policy if Haitians begin to take to the seas to migrate
to nearby islands or the United States as well.
Constituent Concerns and Private Charities
Lawmakers are also helping constituents find persons missing in Haiti, and helping citizens in
Haiti get evacuated from Haiti. Information on how to help them do so is in Appendix C.
Lawmakers may also seek to find ways for the Haitian and U.S. governments to speed pending
and potential adoptions of Haitian orphans.
Many constituents want to know how to contribute to relief efforts. Information on how to do so
is in Appendix D. A bipartisan group of Senators is sponsoring a bill designed to increase
charitable donations to Haiti. The legislation would temporarily ease tax exemption laws,
allowing taxpayers to deduct a larger amount from their annual income for charitable
contributions. It would also encourage food donations by temporarily extending special tax rules
for them.22

21 Prepared by Ruth Ellen Wasem, Specialist in Immigration Policy, Domestic Social Policy Division. For further
information, see CRS Report RS21349, U.S. Immigration Policy on Haitian Migrants, by Ruth Ellen Wasem.
22 Jessica Brady, "Senators Look to Speed Up Charitable Giving to Haiti," Roll Call, January 14, 2010.
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Legislation in the 111th Congress
P.L. 111-117. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, Sec. 7045(b) deals expressly with
Haiti, stating that, (1) The Government of Haiti shall be eligible to purchase defense articles and
services under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), for the Coast Guard; (2) of
the funds appropriated by this Act under titles III, Bilateral Economic Assistance, and IV,
International Security Assistance, not less than $295,530,000 shall be made available for
assistance for Haiti; and (3) none of the funds made available by this Act under the heading
“International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement” may be used to transfer excess weapons,
ammunition or other lethal property of an agency of the United States Government to the
Government of Haiti for use by the Haitian National Police until the Secretary of State reports to
the Committees on Appropriations that any members of the Haitian National Police who have
been credibly alleged to have committed serious crimes, including drug trafficking and violations
of internationally recognized human rights, have been suspended.
Haiti is included in Sec. 7045(c), as part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. The section
reads as follows:
Of the funds appropriated under the headings ‘Development Assistance,’ ‘Economic Support
Fund,’ ‘International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement,’ and ‘Foreign Military
Financing Program’ in this Act, not less than $37,000,000 should be made available for
assistance for the countries of the Caribbean Basin, to provide equipment and training to
combat drug trafficking and related violence and organized crime, and for judicial reform,
institution building, education, anti-corruption, rule of law activities, and maritime security,
of which not less than $21,100,000 should be made available for social justice and education
programs to include vocational training, workforce development and juvenile justice
activities: Provided, That none of the funds made available under this subsection shall be
made available for budget support or as cash payments.
The Act calls on the Secretary of State to provide a detailed spending plan to the Committees on
Appropriations no later than 45 days after this Act is enacted, for funds appropriated or otherwise
made available for the countries of the Caribbean Basin, with concrete goals, actions to be taken,
budget proposals, and anticipated results. Introduced July 22, 2009, signed into law on December
16, 2009.
H.R. 144. The Haitian Protection Act of 2009 would require the Secretary of Homeland Security
to designate Haiti as a country whose qualifying nationals may be eligible for temporary
protected status. Introduced January 6, 2009; referred to the House Judiciary Committee's
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
February 9, 2009.
H.R. 264. The Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2009 would amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide increased protections and eligibility for family-
sponsored immigrants, including to authorize adjustment of status for certain nationals or citizens
of Haiti. Introduced January 7, 2009, referred to House Judiciary; House Homeland Security;
House Oversight and Government Reform Committees; referred to the Subcommittee on
Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law February 9, 2009.
H.R. 417. The Next Steps for Haiti Act of 2009 would authorize the Director of Foreign
Assistance, in consultation with the government of Haiti and Haitian civil society organizations,
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to establish the Haiti Professional Exchange Program to assign qualified Haitian Americans and
others to provide technical assistance to help Haiti improve in areas vital to its growth and
development, including education, energy, environment, health care, infrastructure, security,
transportation, and disaster preparedness. Directs the Secretary of State to implement a student
loan forgiveness program for program participants. Introduced and referred to the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs January 9, 2009.
H.R. 1567. The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) Improvement Act of 2009
would amend the 1998 HRIFA to (1) require determinations with respect to children to be made
using the age and status of an individual on October 21, 1998 (enactment date of the HRIFA of
1998); (2) permit an application based upon child status to be filed by a parent or guardian if the
child is present in the United States on such filing date; and (3) include document fraud among
the grounds of inadmissibility which shall not preclude an otherwise qualifying Haitian alien
from permanent resident status adjustment. It would also permit new status adjustment
applications to be filed for a limited time period. Introduced March 17, 2009, referred to the
House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border
Security, and International Law on April 27, 2009.
H.R. 4206. The Haiti Reforestation Act of 2009 seeks to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to
provide assistance to the Government of Haiti. The purpose of the Act is to end the deforestation
in Haiti within five years and to restore the tropical forest cover to its state in 1990 within a 30-
year time frame. The legislation was both introduced and referred to the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs on December 3, 2009.
H.Con.Res. 17. The resolution addresses the humanitarian assistance provided to Caribbean
countries affected by past hurricanes and tropical storms. It acknowledges the affected countries’
efforts to aid their citizens in recovery. The resolution also expresses support of the international
assistance received by the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Cuba and Turks
and Caicos. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs January 9, 2009.
H.Con.Res. 165. Supports the yielding of temporary protected status for Haitian nationals who
currently reside in the United States. Introduced July 17, 2009; referred to the Subcommittee on
Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law on August 19, 2009.


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Appendix A. Exposed Population
Figure A-1. An Estimate of the Population in Haiti and Surrounding Areas exposed
to Ground Shaking Caused by the January 12, 2010, Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake

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Source: U.S. Geological Survey, at
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/pager/events/us/2010rja6/onepager.pdf
Notes: The figure was generated by the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER)
system at the U.S. Geological Survey. PAGER is an automated system that rapidly assesses the number of people,
cities, and regions exposed to severe shaking by an earthquake. Fol owing the determination of earthquake
location and magnitude, the PAGER system calculates the degree of ground shaking, estimates the number of
people exposed to various levels of shaking, and produces a description of the vulnerability of the exposed
population and infrastructure. This is version 7 of the PAGER output, accessed on January 14, 2010.

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Appendix B. The U.S. Government Emergency
Response Mechanism for International Disasters
The United States is generally a leader and major contributor to relief efforts in response to
humanitarian disasters.23 The President has broad authority to provide emergency assistance for
foreign disasters and the U.S. government provides disaster assistance through several U.S.
agencies. The very nature of humanitarian disasters—the need to respond quickly in order to save
lives and provide relief—has resulted in a rather unrestricted definition of what this type of
assistance consists of at both a policy and an operational level. While humanitarian assistance is
assumed to provide for urgent food, shelter, and medical needs, the agencies within the U.S.
government providing this support typically expand or contract the definition in response to
circumstances. Funds may be used for U.S. agencies to deliver services or to provide grants to
international organizations (IOs), international governmental and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and private or religious voluntary organizations (PVOs). The U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) is the U.S. government agency charged with coordinating
U.S. government and private sector assistance. It also coordinates with international
organizations, the governments of countries suffering disasters, and other governments.
The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) in USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian
Response provides immediate relief materials and personnel, many of whom are already abroad
on mission. It is responsible for providing non-food humanitarian assistance and can quickly
assemble Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) to assess conditions. OFDA has wide
authority to borrow funds, equipment, and personnel from other parts of USAID and other federal
agencies. USAID has two other offices that administer U.S. humanitarian aid: Food For Peace
(FFP) and the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). USAID administers emergency food aid
under FFP (Title II of P.L. 480) and provides relief and development food aid that does not have
to be repaid. OTI provides post-disaster transition assistance, which includes mainly short-term
peace and democratization projects with some attention to humanitarian elements but not
emergency relief.
The Department of Defense (DoD) Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA)
funds three DoD humanitarian programs: the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP),
Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) Program, and Foreign Disaster Relief and Emergency
Response (FDR/ER). OHDACA provides humanitarian support to stabilize emergency situations
and deals with a range of tasks including providing food, shelter and supplies, and medical
evacuations. In addition the President has the authority to draw down defense equipment and
direct military personnel to respond to disasters. The President may also use the Denton program
to provide space-available transportation on military aircraft and ships to private donors who wish
to transport humanitarian goods and equipment in response to a disaster.24
Generally, OFDA provides emergency assistance for 30 to 90 days after a disaster. The same is
true for Department of Defense humanitarian assistance. After the initial emergency is over,

23 For more information, see CRS Report RL33769 International Crises and Disasters: U.S. Humanitarian Assistance,
Budget Trends, and Issues for Congress by Rhoda Margesson.
24 Section 402 of Title 10, named after former Senator Jeremiah Denton, authorizes shipment of privately donated
humanitarian goods on U.S. military aircraft provided there is space and they are certified as appropriate for the disaster
by USAID/OFDA. The goods can be bumped from the transport if other U.S. government aid must be transported.
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assistance is provided through other channels, such as the regular country development programs
of USAID.
The State Department also administers programs for humanitarian relief with a focus on refugees
and the displaced. The Emergency Refugee and Migration Account (ERMA) is a contingency
fund that provides wide latitude to the President in responding to refugee emergencies. Assistance
to address emergencies lasting more than a year comes out of the regular Migration and Refugee
Account (MRA) through the Population, Migration and Refugees (PRM) bureau. PRM assists
refugees worldwide, conflict victims, and populations of concern to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), often extended to include internally displaced people
(IDPs). Humanitarian assistance includes a range of services from basic needs to community
services.


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Appendix C. How to Search for or Report on
Individuals in Haiti
Regarding U.S. Citizens in Haiti
The U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince has set up a task force at the Embassy which is taking calls
as conditions permit. The Embassy is working to identify U.S. citizens in Haiti who need urgent
assistance and to identify sources of emergency help. U.S. citizens in Haiti are urged to contact
the Embassy via email (ACSPaP@state.gov) to request assistance. U.S. citizens in Haiti can call
the Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-
2229-8672.
The State Department has also created a task force to monitor the emergency. People in the U.S.
or Canada with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens in Haiti may reach the Haiti Task
Force at 888-407-4747, or email Haiti-Earthquake@state.gov. Outside of the U.S. and Canada,
call 202-501-4444. For further information and updates, please see the State Department’s
Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_haiti_info_number.html.
Have available the following information related to the person about whom you are inquiring: full
name; date of birth; citizenship; time, date, and place of last known location; any contact
information, such as a cell phone number or hotel/church number where the person could be
reached; or the person’s e-mail address.
According to the Voice of America, people wishing to contact someone in Haiti may record a
message in English, Creole, or French, to be broadcast by VOA radio, by calling 202-205-9442,
code 42.
Haitian Citizens in the U.S.
Haitian citizens in the U.S. trying to locate people in Haiti can register their names with the
International Committee for the Red Cross at
http://www.icrc.org/web/doc/siterfl0.nsf/htmlall/familylinks-haiti-eng?opendocument25. They
can also call the Haitian Embassy in Washington, DC, at 202-332-4090, or the Haitian Consulate
in New York City, 305-859-2003.
According to the Washington Post, the Miami Herald provides a page to help families connect
with family members at
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/haiti/connect/#vmix_media_id=9304036.



25 Liz Heron, The Washington Post , “Web Sites Offer Help for Reuniting Families Separated by Quake,” January 15,
2010, pA9
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Appendix D. How to Contribute to Relief Efforts
How to Make Donations
According to Inter Action and other relief agencies, the best way to help is to donate financially to
organizations responding to a disaster. Cash allows relief professionals to procure exactly what is
needed in a disaster situation and ensure that donations are culturally, dietary, and
environmentally appropriate. Cash donations do not use up other scarce resources, such as
transportation, staff time or warehouse space. As needed, cash can also be transferred quickly to
where it is needed, helping bolster the economy of the disaster-stricken region.26
The White House suggests that those wishing to make a donation to relief efforts, text “HAITI” to
90999, and $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross, charged to your cell phone bill, or
visit InterAction at http://www.interaction.org to contribute to other non-governmental
organizations.
Volunteer Opportunities
Persons who wish to provide assistance or expertise in Haiti are asked to contact the Center for
International Disaster Information at http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/. The Center,
operated under a grant from the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of
Foreign Disaster Assistance, has established a dedicated page to coordinate Haiti support.





26 Inter Action at http://www.interaction.org/how-help
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Appendix E. Links for Further Information
U.S. Government Agencies
Department of Defense
http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0110_haiti/
State Department
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4630.html and
http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/index.htm
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
http://www.usaid.gov/ and
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/country/haiti/eq/
U.S. Geological Survey
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/us2010rja6/#details
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/disasters/emergency/naturaldisasters/earthquake/haiti/index.html
White House: Help for Haiti
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/help-haiti
Other Resources
Red Cross Movement
The International Committee of the Red Cross
http://www.icrc.org
The Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
http://www.ifrc.org
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Haitian Red Cross
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/haiti
The American Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
http://www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/pres04_10.jsp?null&prnf=1
Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI)
http://www.cidi.org/reg_offr.htm; http://www.cidi.org/news/haiti-quake.htm
European Commission for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
Inter Action/Haiti Earthquake Humanitarian Emergency
http://www.interaction.org/article/interaction-members-respond-earthquake-haiti
Organization of American States: Pan American Disaster Foundation
http://www.panamericanrelief.org/
United Nations
http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=91&Body=Haiti&Body1= and
http://www.un.org/ohrlls/
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
http://www.unicef.org/index.php
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minustah/
United Nations World Food Program
http://www.wfp.org/stories/haiti-wfp-bring-food-devastating-quake
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Organization of American States: Pan American Disaster Foundation
http://www.panamericanrelief.org/
U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minustah/
World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO)
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/haiti_earthquake_20100113/en/index.html
Information on the Haitian Earthquake
Haiti Earthquake Damage Map
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullmaps_am.nsf/luFullMap/0573522688593A18C12576AA0048336
8/$File/100112_07.45NYT_Haiti_Epicenter.pdf?OpenElement
Haiti Earthquake Epicentre Map
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullmaps_am.nsf/luFullMap/4E193026CC1680C7052576AA00125C
F6/$File/EQ-2010-000009-HTI_0112.pdf?OpenElement
Haiti Earthquake Intensity Map
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullmaps_am.nsf/luFullMap/A4228B2905DCFFE6C12576AB00285
81B/$File/map.pdf?OpenElement
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rja6.php

Author Contact Information

Maureen Taft-Morales
Rhoda Margesson
Specialist in Latin American Affairs
Specialist in International Humanitarian Policy
mtmorales@crs.loc.gov, 7-7659
rmargesson@crs.loc.gov, 7-0425


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Key Policy Staff

Area of Expertise
Name/Title
Telephone
E-mail
Maureen Taft-Morales
General
Specialist in Latin
7-7659 mtmorales@crs.loc.gov
American and Caribbean
Affairs
Rhoda Margesson
Humanitarian Assistance
Specialist in International
7-0425 rmargesson@crs.loc.gov
Humanitarian Policy
Steve Bowman
Military Assistance
Specialist in National
7-5841 sbowman@crs.loc.gov
Security
Marjorie Ann Browne,
United Nations
Specialist in International
7-7695 mbrowne@crs.loc.gov
Affairs
Peter Folger
Earthquakes
Specialist in Energy and
7-1517 pfolger@crs.loc.gov
Natural Resources Policy
Julissa Gomez Granger,
General
Information Research
7-8981 jgomezgranger@crs.loc.gov
Specialist
J.F. Hornbeck
Trade
Specialist in International
7-7782 jhornbeck@crs.loc.gov
Trade and Finance
General
Anne Leland, Information
Research Specialist
7-4704 aleland@crs.loc.gov
General
Allison Snell, Presidential
Management Fellow
7-7525 asnel @crs.loc.gov
Ruth Ellen Wasem
Immigration
Specialist in Immigration
7-7342 rwasem@crs.loc.gov
Policy
Martin A. Weiss
Debt Relief
Specialist in International
7-5407 mweiss@crs.loc.gov
Trade and Finance


Congressional Research Service
26

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