The powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake on August 14 injured and displaced thousands of people and, as of August 23, took the lives of over 2,200 residents in the Caribbean nation. Rescuers continue to look for survivors among the rubble of crumbled homes and buildings. The devastation is compounded by oppressive heat, overcrowded hospitals and widening concerns about Tropical Storm Grace, which is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and landslides, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Haiti, considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, suffered from a 2010 earthquake that claimed the lives of 300,000 people and continues to face challenges exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, economic underdevelopment and political instability.

The recovery process will be long and difficult. The organizations below provide immediate and long-term relief to affected residents. This list will be updated as more information and resources are available.

• Direct Relief International provides emergency assistance after natural disasters around the globe. In Haiti, Direct Relief is working with a larger coalition of responders, and has begun shipping and equipping prescription drugs, IV solutions, medical backpacks, emergency health kits, and wound care items to responding hospitals in Haiti. Donations restricted to supporting Direct Relief’s response in Haiti can be made at this link.
• International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) is organizing relief efforts internationally to support emergency relief efforts to the Haitian earthquake. Working with partners in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the IFRC is supporting the Haitian Red Cross in securing food, supplies and physicians for affected regions. Donations restricted to supporting the international relief effort in Haiti can be made here.
• Team Rubicon leads US military veterans in disaster relief and recovery efforts across the United States and around the globe. They have already deployed teams on the ground for search and rescue in Haiti. More information can be found in this update from the field. Donations to support their Haiti work can be made here.
• UNICEF is on the ground in the aftermath of a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, where children were already suffering amidst surging COVID-19 cases, severe acute malnutrition and gang violence. Support for UNICEF’s response efforts can be made here.
• World Central Kitchen focuses on emergency food relief following disasters. They have already deployed staff, containers and food preparation equipment to Haiti where they’ve begun sourcing local food to prepare nourishing meals for impacted Haitians. Donations to support WCK’s work in Haiti and in other areas of critical need can be made here.

When supporting relief organizations, consider marking your gift as general operating support. By doing so, you enable the organization to both respond to current disasters and be prepared for those that may arise in the future. Visit CCF’s disaster giving page for more tips on how to maximize your impact when giving to disaster relief.

CCF supports all of Los Angeles’ diverse communities, among them the largest Armenian community in the world outside Armenia.  Our hearts break for those impacted by the current conflict in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in the southern Caucasus region.

To help victims of this conflict, you can support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross. For those wishing to support family and friends in Armenia, please visit the Armenia Fund, which was established in Los Angeles in 1994 and to UNICEF Armenia.

When supporting relief organizations, consider marking your gift as general operating support. By doing so, you enable the organization to both respond to current disasters and be prepared for those that may arise in the future. Visit CCF’s disaster giving page for more tips on how to maximize your impact when giving to disaster relief.

Hurricane Laura, Category 4, slammed Louisiana on in the early hours of Thursday, August 27. While the full extent of damage isn’t yet known, preliminary estimates indicate that thousands of homes could either be destroyed or have major damage across Louisiana and Texas. Some areas are still unreachable, heavy debris is still blocking some roads, and more than 272,000 households are still without power. For some it could be weeks before power is fully restored. People are facing high temperatures and some have seen their homes destroyed after being out of work for months due to COVID-19.

We encourage you to learn about and donate to many worthy organizations providing emergency relief to those impacted by Hurricane Laura. The list below will be updated to reflect additional organizations and resources being made available.

• The American Red Cross is providing emergency shelters, supplies and vehicles and mobilizing thousands of disaster workers in communities affected by the storm. The organization is also requesting urgent blood donations in an effort to meet critical need.
• Team Rubicon is providing rescue and recovery equipment in communities along the coast to assist with response efforts.
• World Central Kitchen is providing nutritious meals to evacuated families in shelters and in the community.
• Operation USA is assisting with damage assessment and working with community-based organizations to offer support to affected communities.

When supporting relief organizations, consider marking your gift as general operating support. By doing so, you enable the organization to both respond to current disasters and be prepared for those that may arise in the future. Visit CCF’s disaster giving page for more tips on how to maximize your impact when giving to disaster relief.

Since July 1st, 2019 large parts of Australia have been devastated by wildfires that have burned millions of acres of land across the country killing people, destroying homes and compromising the rich biodiversity of the continent. The record-breaking temperatures combined with months of drought make these fires dangerous and very hard to contain.

The severity of the widespread fires has raised concerns about the long-term health effects for those living in Australia who have been exposed to toxic air conditions for months. In addition, the damage and destruction to sensitive ecosystems can have serious repercussions on a global scale.

The recovery process will be long and difficult in communities throughout the region. The organizations below provide immediate and long-term relief to affected residents. This list will be updated as more information and resources are available.

• Australian Red Cross is disbursing emergency grants to aid in the recovery process and allow those whose homes were lost in the wildfires to purchase basic needs.
• NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc. (WIRES) is assisting in wildlife rescue as well as long-term outcomes for native animals affected by the wildfires.
• NSW Rural Fire Service is support volunteer firefighters who are on the front lines fighting the wildfires.
• Firesticks is working to support the training of over 100 accredited Cultural fire practitioners across Australia to apply cultural fire regimes that care for and protect Country, life and property.
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy has established a Global Recovery Fund focused on international disasters, which will provide grants for strategic medium and long-term recovery efforts.
• Global Giving has established the Australian Wildfire Relief Fund to support immediate rescue and relief efforts for people and animals affected by the wildfires.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare has been working on the ground to focus on crisis management and hands-on support to wildlife care groups across impacted areas.
• Save the Children is setting up Child Friendly Spaces in bushfire-affected regions to help children cope by giving them a place to be kids again.

When supporting relief organizations, consider marking your gift as general operating support. By doing so, you enable the organization to both respond to current disasters and be prepared for those that may arise in the future. Visit CCF’s disaster giving page for more tips on how to maximize your impact when giving to disaster relief.

Since the beginning of 2020, Puerto Rico has been trembling for over a week and it hasn’t stopped. On January 6th, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the U.S. territory, followed by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake just a few days later—the worst earthquake for the island in more than a century. A barrage of tremors continue to cause further damage to not only buildings and roads, but to the physical and emotional well-being of the island’s residents.

The earthquakes and aftershocks have knocked out power to much of the island, seriously damaging homes and infrastructure and leaving at least four people dead. The governor of Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency saying the island has never been exposed to this kind of emergency in 102 years. These earthquakes come two years after Hurricane Maria hit in September 2017, the worst natural disaster in the island’s modern history.

The recovery process will be long and difficult in communities throughout the region. The organizations below provide immediate and long-term relief to affected residents. This list will be updated as more information and resources are available.

• The UNIDOS Disaster Relief and Recovery Program serves the immediate and long-term needs of Puerto Rican families and communities affected by the earthquakes.
• ConPRmetidos supports immediate- and long-term structural repairs in disadvantaged communities.
• Fundación Comunitaria contributes to the development of Puerto Rican communities through personalized philanthropic advice to individuals, families, corporations and foundations and provides emergency funds to assist communities affected by the earthquakes.
• World Central Kitchen is providing free lunch and dinner at five locations in Puerto Rico (Ponce, Yauco, Guanica, Peñuelas, and Guayanilla) for residents and disaster-relief workers.
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy funds strategic, long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts to help strengthen communities and position them to better withstand future disasters.
• Operation USA is a Los Angeles-based international disaster relief and development agency helping communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease, violence and endemic poverty.
• Team Rubicon is an international disaster response nonprofit that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly provide relief to communities in need.
• Direct Relief continues to support the island’s recovery, strengthening health and power infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.

When supporting relief organizations, consider marking your gift as general operating support. By doing so, you enable the organization to both respond to current disasters and be prepared for those that may arise in the future. Visit CCF’s disaster giving page for more tips on how to maximize your impact when giving to disaster relief.