We must take advantage of this time of opportunity in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, where illiteracy stands at 48% and unemployment is at 50%.
Haiti is struggling to overcome the impact of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike that hit during August and September this year. In Gonaives, hit worst by the terrible storms, only a fifth of the city has been cleared of the mud that buried much of the town.
Haiti's government says that 60% of the expected harvest was lost and the the hurricane's cost the country some $900 million -- almost a tenth of Haiti's GDP. World Bank President Robert Zoellick described the damage caused by the hurricane as 'eye-popping.'
The people of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, need our help. This is a way for us to respond in a way that can be trusted. Many times we worry that emergency aid will be wasted by corrupt politicians. However, any donations we make will be go from Outreach International to affected Haitians in responsible ways that promote their dignity.
While the US has been relatively spared from hurricane season, Haiti has not! Please don't forget our not-so-far-away neighbors. Outreach-International makes it easy to donate and you can be rest assured that the money will not be wasted.
