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Asia-Pacific

Haiti aid groups: Cash now, goods later

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-15 09:40

Children peer out from a hole of a makeshift shelter after Tuesday's major earthquake in Port-au-Prince January 14, 2010. [Agencies]

World Vision's Owens said cash would be used to buy more of the supplies that it is sending to Haiti, like hygiene kits filled with toilet paper, toothbrushes, combs and body soap.

In some instances, donations of products or services, such as shipping companies flying in supplies or health care companies donating specific medical equipment, are helpful in the early stages of the disaster, aid groups said.

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"When UPS provided free transport to help us get water filtration systems to Zimbabwe during a cholera outbreak, the transportation was a really really helpful thing," said Stephanie Kurzina, vice-president for resource development at Oxfam America.

UPS said its transportation team is identifying ocean ships and aircraft that could be used to deliver goods to Haiti.

Meanwhile, Nestle Waters North America and PepsiCo Foundation are donating bottled water, while Procter & Gamble said is providing packets of water purifier.

Discount retailer Target Corp is donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross, and helping prepare more than 1 million meals that will be delivered to earthquake victims by the nonprofit organization ImpactLives.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Wednesday that it was donating $500,000 to the Red Cross and sending prepackaged food kits valued at $100,000 to Haiti.

Spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said it made the donations after discussing with the Red Cross its most urgent needs. Galberth said Wal-Mart would donate more money or supplies, like tents or food, depending on the Red Cross' needs.

"We are here, waiting for the specifics around what kind of donations are needed," she said.

UNICEF's Stern said corporations could also use the "power of their podiums" to alert the American public how they can make donations to help relief efforts.

"They're running ads every day this week, they're doing commercials, they're sponsoring programs," she said. "To the extent that they will give up air time or allow public service announcements ... that kind of stuff is a phenomenal gift."