The worst may yet to come, if we do not act fast. People are already thirsty, and water, is difficult to find, even to buy. I drove through the entire city today and didn’t see a single aid distribution. Al Jazeera news team told me the same. Streets are normally lined with street food merchants. Now difficult to find any food and it will get worse. Situation desperate but could get catastrophic soon. Thousands are dead, probably tens of thousands. Bodies hauled off in trucks to be buried in common graves, but many bodies still lying on the street and many more in wreckage. It is too late for them. But for those who survived, time is running out. Communities are starting to organize. But they have no resources. Everyone sleeping in streets and plazas parks. They have set up their own refugee camps. Thousands have fled for countryside. But most have nowhere to go.

-Reed Lindsay, Jacquet, Port-au-Prince

Things are changing rapidly in Haiti. Keeping ahead of the needs is impossible but anticipating is essential as we work with other grassroots non-profits that have experience in Haiti.

Amber Munger of AMURT, reported yesterday: “In my thirteen years of working in Haiti, not once before have I seen such massive destruction as we are experiencing now. Nor have I seen such motivation, determination, compassion, and solidarity among people. When we entered portoprens after the quake struck, the city had fallen and was continuing to fall as a result of continuous aftershocks. The streets were full of people sitting together. Everyone was sitting in the middle of the roads for fear that the houses would continue to fall on them. They were singing. The whole city was singing. They were singing songs of solidarity. They were singing songs of thanks and praise that they were still able to sing and to be together. These people have lost everything. The city is now a city of refugees. But they are putting their voices together to be thankful.”

From Melinda Miles of Konpay: “Water is already a scarce resource and is likely to be the first crisis. Reed is part of an excellent – but small – team of people on the ground that are beginning to connect and work together. They are going to start identifying places where volunteers can do the most good without increasing the pressure for food and water in the capital. We are trying to decentralize and staff clinics in outlying areas so victims can be evacuated to safe places with shelter, water, food.”

Fuel for generators is disappearing fast. Water, food, medical aid…all continue to be in short supply. If you’d like to help, know that every dollar you give will go directly to the people of Haiti. Consider making a donation to Honor and Respect Foundation. We’ll work with other non-profits and direct the moneys in the most effective way.

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