Feminists For Choice

Media outlets continue to flash scenes from the devastated nation of Haiti. A ticker of organizations that need money in the relief effort run under newscasts as we sit, watch and hope for better news. Even before the 7.0 earthquake shook this nation about 2000 miles from the U.S., people were suffering.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Some estimates of people living in poverty are as high as 80% of the population. A UNICEF representative told Rachel Maddow only 46% of the country had access to clean water prior to the quake. These numbers are devastating in their own right, let alone how they affect people’s ability to access needed assistance.

My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the devastating earthquake. However, I’m particular emphatic towards the women of Haiti. Females are unequally affected by crisis situations. 

Women are often more impacted by crisis situation than other groups. Education and access to aid is crucial after a disaster like the Haitian earthquake. Since women make up 70% of the world’s poor and two-thirds of the non-literate population, it is understandable that they would have extra obstacles to obtaining aid services.

Many small farms and home businesses are run by women to sustain their family. These are also the vulnerable to tragedies like the earthquake. Workloads for women are already larger for women across the world and these only increases with rebuilding efforts. Then to top it off, intimate partner and sexual violence increases in times of crisis.

Despite the bleak forecast for women in a crisis, they are not simply damsels in distress. Women take a central role is preventing disaster and reconstructing their communities after one occurs. As care-takers women are more likely to prepare family emergency plans, kits and be aware of who will need the most help in their community. They are also the ones that take on the responsibility of organizing reconstruction of homes and community structures.

Many of us want to help. It seems right now money is one of the few ways to help Haiti. One women’s organization that has a good reputation and is helping in the relief effort is MADRE.

Those local to New York may want to help Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Lakou New York, and Movement of Dominican Haitian Women which are planning an immediate delivery of first aid relief. They will be going to the Dominican/Haitian border and donations are encouraged. IFCO/Haiti Relief, 418 West 145th Street, New York NY 10031.

For a broader look at places to give, ABC News has a list of organizations that are bringing supplies and support to the field. Read through them and give to the one you feel most comfortable.

Also, I am sure as time goes by and pictures stop showing up on the news Haiti will need support more than ever. I suggest checking back then and maybe as a world community we can help Haiti reconstruct and revitalize.

 Photo Credit: New York Times