Wyclef Jean is a rock star in America, but the man is famous almost beyond comprehension in his native Haiti. He released this statement today (Jan 13) concerning the recent devastating earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
January 13th, 2010
STATEMENT BY WYCLF JEAN ON HAITI EARTHQUAKENEW YORK—The following is a statement by Wyclef Jean on yesterday’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti:
“Haiti yesterday faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.
The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.
I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.
President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”
Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can visit www.yele.org and click on DONATE.
Other worthwhile organizations accepting donations for Haitian earthquake relief are: Doctors Without Borders, The American Red Cross, and The American Jewish World Service.