Devastating earthquakes in Haiti left 1.5 million homeless, up to 200,000 dead, and countless injured and traumatized. It will take years for the country to fully recover, but Lions will be there every step of the way.
Just like Lions have done with the South Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Sichuan earthquake in China and other calamities, Lions and LCIF will be there for the both the short- and long-term - providing immediate aid now but also working to rebuild communities, to restore hope and to support those affected for as long as it takes.
Lions have already moved swiftly to provide immediate assistance. Lions relief tents are being shipped from Sweden; Lions from Canada on a mission in Haiti during the quake gave first aid assistance during the first hours and days; and Lions in the Caribbean area are sending aid over land and by sea. Additionally, a coordinating committee of Lions in Haiti, Dominican Republic and nearby countries are actively planning for the next steps.
The response by Lions to LCIF's Lions Hope for Haiti donation appeal has been tremendous. Within days, we have already mobilized more than US$350,000, but we'll need millions more if we are to help the country rebuild, to provide homes for the homeless, to rebuild schools for the children, to rehabilitate those left disabled, and to help heal so many shattered and broken hearts. So please donate what you can.
Read the latest LCIF update (
click here) on Haiti, including information on how you can make a personal online donation (
click to donate). I thank you all ahead of time for any further assistance you can provide.
Eberhard J. Wirfs
International President
