Editor’s Note: If you missed Deepa’s birth story this morning, you can read it HERE. This afternoon we have United Nations Aid Worker and Comox Valley mom Kelly Flynn talking about the importance of understanding the most positive and effective ways you can help the people of Haiti. Here she is:

When we see human beings suffering like we are seeing in Haiti we want to help, respond, take action of some kind.  With the minute by minute news-media feeds of pictures and traumatized testimonials of men, women, children and the elderly coming into our homes we have the urge to do anything we can to help from our distant communities where our lives continue untouched by this disaster.  It is human of us all to want to help.

We want to give.

The question is what should we give, how do we give and to whom?

From the professional perspective of a humanitarian field worker, the best thing for us to do at this point is to donate money to a reputable and mandated agency who can uphold the basic human rights (such as the right to shelter, water, food, medical treatment, education, etc.) and further the assistance and protection of affected Haitians in this time of great need.

By donating items that we think will do good service (such as clothing, food items, medical supplies, toys for children, etc.) we are in effect placing undo stress on the humanitarian response efforts, field personnel, fragile in-country resources/infrastructure and already taxed corridors of operations that are open to access the Haitian people.

In addition, as people donating items out of well-meaning good, we cannot guarantee that all affected by this earthquake will get similar items of comfort during such a chaotic time.

As a matter of professional humanitarian conduct, those affected by disaster have the right to assistance and protection but who will decide who gets a donated teddy bear if there are only a few and there hundreds of children in need of this legitimate comfort?  Who will get a few donated medical kits if thousands of families need these scarce resources to care for injured family members?  Who will get limited donated clothing when so many have lost all that own and are only wearing the clothes they have on their back?

As a field practitioner, I ask all who want to act, to show they care, to donate, - do so in a way that will strengthen the efforts on the ground, while upholding human rights and thus bringing the appropriate humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people in a timely and coordinated manner.

Be part of a responsible and human response in Haiti.  Do not contribute unnecessarily to an effort that is already fragile and complex, even if you mean well and have a big heart full of compassion and sympathy.

There have been thousands of stories on the aid flowing into Haiti, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake there. But the BBC has done those one better, with an interactive map showing all the routes that aid is taking.

Clicking on the link, you see different pictures illustrating each of the main routes for aid, from sea to air. What’s particularly interesting are the little blurbs attached to each–explaining, for example, that U.S. divers are busy trying to clear the harbor in Port-au-Prince, and that the U.S. aircraft carriers are serving as floating airports.

This one’s probably the best story out there for getting a grasp of the massive scale–and tricky problems–involved in the disaster relief efforts. Sobering stuff, and answer to anyone wondering how exactly the billions of dollars in aid are being utilized.

The following are organizations that are mandated agencies with a long track record of upholding human rights in times of crisis. Please consider donating to them as relief efforts continue in Haiti:

- FRC: The mandated lead agency for humanitarian response after natural disasters

- Canadian Red Cross: Canadian representative of IFRC

- International Organization for Migration (IOM): Mandated in a number of areas – especially for shelter and camp response for internally displaced persons

- CARE: Reputable international Non-Governmental Organization or NGO

- Oxfam: Skilled international NGO in areas of water, shelter etc.

- UNICEF: Specializing in child protection, family reunification, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH))

- UNHCR: UN agency for refugees and protecting the right of internally displaced persons

- WFP: UN’s international pipeline for food distribution

- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)

- Save The Children

- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

FOR YOUTH & CHILDREN:

If your children are wondering how they might contribute to the relief effort in Haiti in a tactile way that resonates with them but doesn’t complicate efforts on the ground in Haiti, we encourage you to take part in the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Messages of Hope for Haiti campaign.

From the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots website: The crisis there is immense, and with hundreds of thousands affected, the people of Haiti are no doubt lacking in hope as much as in financial resources. Nearly a week later, as the devastation and the impact of the earthquake remains unclear, we the Roots & Shoots National Youth Leadership Council, ask you to join us in sending messages of hope to the children and youth of Haiti. Every member and friend can participate.

It is our hope that with these messages from youth around the world, those affected by this calamity, will make it through another day a little easier. Consider sending a note, letter, poem, inspirational quote, song or artwork that shows your support and thoughts for the people of Haiti.

Send your messages of hope to:
Messages of Hope—Roots & Shoots
181 White Street, White Hall, Room 029
Danbury, Ct 06810

In the words of H. Jackson Brown, Jr., “Never deprive someone of hope—it may be all they have.” Please join us in bringing hope to the people of Haiti and making an impact on the lives of those who need us most at this time.