The Haitian Earthquake: How You Can Help

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The nation of Haiti, which shares the idyllic island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, isn't on the radar for many American vacationers. But as this impoverished country faces the devastation wrought by a magnitude-7.0 earthquake — the worst to hit the island in 200 years — some 1.8 million people who live in and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince need our help.

To that end, we've gathered just a few of the organizations accepting monetary donations for the Haitian relief effort. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it's a good place to start:

* Providing food, medical supplies, and technical assistance, the American Red Cross is taking donations through its International Response Fund.

* Helping children in quake-affected areas, UNICEF has set up a Haitian relief fund.

* Working to deliver clean water, shelter and sanitation, Oxfam is appealing for donations through its Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund.

Thanks to The Huffington Post, which is collecting an exhaustive list of links to relief agencies and organizations.

Seeing the people of Haiti in peril — men, women and children — reminds us that our love for the Caribbean region is about more than rum bars and sensational beaches, posh resorts and coral reefs. It's about the people.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti.

Flickr photo by audra k., used under the creative commons license.