Here Is Where We Sent Our Donation

[lame54]

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

TRANSCRIPT | JANUARY 13, 2010
Teleconference on Emergency Response to Haiti Earthquake

"We have three general areas where we have been traditionally providing emergency care with infrastructure established to set up and provide for emergency services. All of those three centers have been severely affected in the earthquake and none of them are in a condition that we can use. One has completely collapsed and two others are so structurally damaged we cannot use them."

FIELD NEWS | JANUARY 13, 2010
Haiti: MSF Teams Set up Clinics to Treat Injured After Facilities Are Damaged

The first reports are now emerging from MSF teams who were already working on medical projects Haiti and have treated hundreds of people injured in the quake. "The situation is chaotic," said one senior staff. "I visited five medical centers, including a major hospital, and most of them were not functioning."

PRESS COVERAGE | JANUARY 13, 2010
Medical Aid Unable to Reach Many Earthquake Victims
Greg Elder, MSF operations manager for Haiti, speaks about the emergency response.

FIELD NEWS | JANUARY 13, 2010
MSF Activities in Haiti

Though its own facilities were severely damaged by the massive earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, MSF field staff have been establishing temporary clinics in order to treat injured men, women, and children. MSF was able to respond immediately because international and national staff had already been running several projects in country.

FIELD NEWS | JANUARY 12, 2010
MSF Responding to Devastating Earthquake in Haiti

On January 12, a magnitude 7.0 quake struck about 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. MSF teams on the ground have witnessed significant damage to its medical facilities, injuries to patients and staff, and an influx of wounded towards these hospitals in the capital.

[Skittles]

1. I did too

wonderful organization

[lame54]

2. I'm skeptical about sending money to organizations...

But, these guys do great work

[NoSheep]

3. That's where I sent mine and I feel good about it. Clinton said they were

in immediate need of clean water and first aid supplies. Everywhere I've gone today, everyone's donating.

[frazzled]

4. I have given a number of times to DWB in the past

But I have to say I have been somewhat annoyed by their pervasive and aggressive fundraising tactics over the last year or two. I get phone calls at dinner time, letters in the mail, and frequent (heart-tugging) emails from them.

Although it would normally be my first inclination in such a disaster to give my donation to them, I passed this time, and went instead to Direct Relief International ... which I was quite suprised (and happy) to see had a clearly displayed box on the donation page in which you could ask not to be sent email or contacted. They spend 100% of all donations (due to a grant they received) on direct aid (which in their case, is predominantly delivery of medical supplies).

I believe DWB does great work, but I worry too much of their efforts are directed at the kinds of manipulative fundraising schemes that make me uncomfortable.

That said, I hope they get a lot of money to continue their essential services.

[unapatriciated]

5. kick for a great charity