Haiti Earthquake Relief Donations Encouraged By Music Community

If you’ve been reading the news, listening to the radio or watching TV, the news of Haiti’s tragic and fierce earthquake has been inevitable. Haitians have experienced one of their most horrific “strike-slip” earthquakes in the past 200 years. The New York Times has reported mayhem in Haiti’s capital city and although they have not been able to determine the amount of deaths or casualties, a substantial amount is likely to be calculated. Hospitals, churches and people’s tin-roof homes have collapsed killing even passer-bys and citizens of the Little Haiti neighborhood in Miami were especially worried when no one was picking up on the other end of their calls.

As citizens of this small world we live, we along with many others in the music industry, encourage you to help out the Haiti earthquake relief. There are tons of ways we can help out, and Wyclef Jean has already made a huge impact in the social media world today with his requests. Let’s take his lead and see what we can do. More info after the jump.

Wyclef Jean, who is known for being part of the Fugees, is also a native of Haiti himself and was one of the first musicians to tweet about his concern for the country’s state of disaster. According to the Associated Press, he has been encouraging fans and followers to donate $5 each to the Haitian charity Yele Haiti. He’s also teamed up with some people to make it quick and easy. All you have to do is text YELE to the number 501501. Other musicians who have followed Jean’s pursuit include rappers, Common and Q-Tip, and even the band Coldplay.

Mark Ronson has also encouraged fans to text “haiti” to 90999 in order to donate $10 to The American Red Cross.

Arcade Fire is asking you to donate anything you can over at Partners in Health.

The New York Times also reports that President Obama has held emergency meetings and “administration officials were closely monitoring the situation.” However, it’s so easy for you, personally, to take and part and help.

There are plenty of other organizations you can also easily donate to. Los Angeles’ KCRW has put together a wonderful page of links that include relief organizations such as Oxfam America, The American Red Cross, Direct Relief International and more.

Everyone has plenty of options for places to donate to and we encourage you to do so. As mentioned, it’s a small world. Everyone lives on this planet together and the more we can help others, the better it will be for all of us in the long run.

Text your donations, go to KCRW’s page, or simply click on any of the following links below:

• Yele Haiti
• Oxfam America
• American Red Cross
• Direct Relief International
• Map International
• Operation USA
• International Rescue Committee
• Habitat For Humanity
• International Medical Corps
• Doctors Without Borders
• Partners In Health

If you need to see how much Port-au-Prince, Haiti needs your help, you can go here.

Do you think Wyclef Jean has the right idea?