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Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-796-1000
TDD/TTY 617-796-1089
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Monday - Friday
8:30am-5:00pm
Tuesday
8:30am- 8:00pm
Haiti - A major earthquake centered just 10 miles from Port-au-Prince has devastated sections of the city and knocked out telephone communications throughout the country.
Newton residents can help Haiti by making financial donations to either of the organizations listed below.
Background
On January 12, at 5:22pm local time, a series of earthquakes with magnitude 6.5 to 7.3 struck Haiti in the highly populated area of Department Ouest, 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. Aftershocks are continuing to occur.
Current Situation:
· Damage - The capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, has been severely affected including critical city infrastructure such as electricity, water and phone services. Initial reports indicate a large number of casualties and widespread damage. According to preliminary reports, many Red Cross, UN and government buildings have collapsed or have been damaged. Populations may also be affected in Carrefour and Jacmel.
· Access - The Port-au-Prince International Airport is closed to commercial traffic, but remains open for official use. Thousands of earthquake survivors are clogging roadways, hindering the ability of rescue workers to reach those trapped beneath rubble. Transportation disruptions are expected to deteriorate.
· Power - There is a near-total blackout in Port-au-Prince; the power grid has been significantly damaged, and sporadic blackouts have begun to spread across the island. Those with generators could run out of fuel before nightfall, further limiting electricity availability.
· Communications – Due to limited electricity, communications are difficult with phone lines and cellular infrastructure down.
American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay
How to Help:
You can help the victims of Haiti by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Put Haiti on your check memo line and send donations:
American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay
Attn: International Response Fund
139 Main Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
or made by phone at (800) 564-1234 or online by going to /BostonRedCross.org/DonateNow
The American Red Cross currently is not accepting any in-kind donation of goods and materials.
Partners In Health
Partners In Health staff in Boston and Haiti are working to collect as much information as possible about the conditions on the ground, the relief efforts taking shape, and all relevant logistics issues in order to respond efficiently and effectively to the most urgent needs in the field. At the moment, PIH’s Chief Medical Officer is on her way to Haiti, where she will meet with Zanmi Lasante leadership and head physicians, who are already working to ensure PIH’s coordinated relief efforts leveraging the skills of more than 120 doctors and nearly 500 nurses and nursing assistants who work at Zanmi Lasante’s sites.
The co-founder of this worthwhile organization is Paul Farmer, subject of the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder, which takes place in Haiti.
Visit www.pih.org to learn more and to donate.