Tens of thousands are feared dead in Haiti after the powerful earthquake of January 12, 2010

Port-au-Prince has been severely affected including critical services such as electricity, water and phone lines. Communication appears to be almost impossible at this time, with phone lines down (landlines and mobile phones). Numerous buildings, including the UN headquarters, are seriously damaged. Since Wednesday morning, international relief efforts, as well as local efforts, have been deployed to provide support to the population.

Call to Action

The World YWCA is calling on member associations, civil society, partners and donors to take the following action to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people:

• Donate to immediate emergency assistance efforts on the ground
• Advocate and donate to medium and long term reconstruction efforts
• Dedicate a prayer session to Haiti

1. Donate and support immediate emergency assistance efforts on the ground

In terms of emergency assistance, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) regional response mechanism has identified four priority areas for action: emergency aid; shelter; search and rescue; and communication .

Our ecumenical partner, ACT International ( www.act-intl.org) is coordinating the ecumenical family emergency response through its six partners on the ground. The Lutheran World Federation will act as the lead coordinating body on site and will begin with a rapid needs assessment. Based on the assessment, a preliminary appeal will be sent out.

If you would like to donate through the coordinated ACT International ecumenical family response, we encourage you to wait for the appeal. We hope to circulate this preliminary appeal by the end of next week.

If you would like to donate now for immediate assistance, you can support the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC). See bottom of article for donation details.

2. Advocate and support long term reconstruction efforts

It is clear that the people of Haiti are going to need substantial support once the initial emergency response is over.

The post earthquake rebuilding and long term reconstruction of Haiti will require development programmes as well as advocacy actions. The following critical issues should be taken into account ( Source: Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters (CRSCAD):

• The dignity of the Haitian people should be preserved at all times
• The participation of women and young people in the formulation and implementation of reconstruction policies after the earthquake
• The promotion of human dignity in the creation of sustainable environments that empower women, young people and low-income households
• Clear roles for government, institutions of higher education, the private sector and non-governmental and community-based organisations, including women's organisations, in post-earthquake rebuilding
• New policies for social, economic, and infrastructural rural development (health, schools, higher education, water, roads, etc.)
• A new paradigm for Disaster Recovery and earthquake resistant design
• Participatory post-earthquake reconstruction planning and development
• Clean and appropriate energy technologies

The World YWCA is raising funds to rebuild the lives in the long term by supporting the efforts of our developing YWCA in Haiti. Please consider giving online today at http:// www.worldywca.org and designating in your donation ‘Haiti response’.

3. Dedicate a prayer session to Haiti

Consider holding a prayer session dedicated to the crisis in Haiti. The Caribbean YWCAs have circulated a prayer asking that we pray for the following:

• That the "aftershocks" would cease.
• That dry weather conditions will prevail.
• That the family and loved ones of the victims of this disaster would be comforted.
• That the trapped would be rescued.
• That the injured would receive proper medical assistance.
• That the survivors would receive aid and supplies.
• That rescue workers would be adequate and properly outfitted with tools and equipment.
• That relief workers would have more than enough food.
• That Port-au-Prince would be rebuilt stronger and better than it was before.
• That God would be exalted in the nation of Haiti.

Donate today:

For immediate emergency response:

• ACT International (Action for Churches Together)

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

For medium to long term reconstruction efforts with the YWCA of Haiti:

UBS SA

Rue des Noirettes 35

CP 2600

CH-1211 Geneva

Swift Code : UBSWCHZH12A

Account numbers :

279-C0797187.0 (CHF)

279-C0797187.1 (USD)

279-C0797187.2 (Euro)

IBAN Numbers:

CH45 0027 9279 C0797187.0 (CHF)

CH18 0027 9279 C0797187.1 (USD)

CH88 0027 9279 C0797187.2 (EUR)

Make payment in the name of:

World YWCA

16 Ancienne Route, CH-1218 Grand Saconnex

Geneva, Switzerland

Please indicate : Haiti 2010 Earthquake

For credit card donation contact:

Finance Department, World YWCA

Tel: +41 929 6040/ Fax: +41 929 6044

Email: worldoffice@worldywca.org

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Photo: 2010 REUTERS/Jorge Silva