It is terrible when our global community is affected by catastrophes.  The recent devastating earthquake within Haiti has become a global disaster whose impact is far reaching, severely affecting one of the poorest nations in the world.  The International Real Estate Federation, FIABCI, cares for the residents of all countries throughout the world.  We are humanitarians who are committed to facilitate help when a crisis, the magnitude of the recent earthquake, hits.

Haiti needs our help now and will need our help on an ongoing basis.  We are calling on all FIABCI members throughout the world to come together to support and help our global friends – the families, children, business colleagues – located within Haiti as they strive to recover from this debilitating event.

The nation of Haiti is facing unimaginable suffering and loss following the recent devastating earthquake (7.3 degree on the Richter scale). This has resulted in widespread and significant damage, especially in the heavily populated capital of Port-au-Prince. Early estimates stated that more than 50% of the buildings in Port-au-Prince collapsed and most of the capital is destroyed.  There are still people trapped in the wreckage begging for help.  There is not enough water, energy, food, medicine, etc.  Thousands of people are injured; more than 100,000 deaths are estimated and include many nationalities (Haitians, Dominicans, Canadians, Americans, Brazilians, etc.).  Our partner, the United Nations, has lost its headquarters which collapsed along with the main hotel and diplomatic center.   In addition, transportation and communications means are affected and almost nonexistent.  The airport has being damaged and this makes the contribution more difficult to receive.  There are MILLIONS of distressed children, women and men who need our support and our help. 

We need to join together to answer Haiti’s Call For Action.  Haiti is among the world’s poorest countries, and this catastrophe will exacerbate the already critical situation for its people.

The FIABCI Dominican Republic Chapter has offered to serve as our FIABCI Haiti hub which will enable us to help the residents of Haiti, their neighbor country, in the most direct manner.   As a partner of the United Nations, we will also support the communication of the United Nations relief efforts on an ongoing basis.  In the next few days, you will find updated information at our new site, www.FIABCICares.com

We appeal to the solidarity of our members and their chapters to contribute with anything in order to bring some relief to Haiti in this tragic moment.  It is imperative that you ensure that any help provided makes it to the victims.  Please do something.  Anything you can do, will make a difference. 

To facilitate means to contribute, FIABCI has identified several ways to help and make a difference to ensure that your donations make it to Haiti.

FIABCI Cares: Help FIABCI Help Haiti in the following manner:

General Product Support:

FIABCI Dominican Republic has identified Baptist Haiti Mission (BHM) as a solid organization that is helping Haiti for several years.  The organization can be found online at www.bhm.org.  The mission assists a network of more than 330 churches and schools, a hospital, a number of medical clinics, and many community development programs, and is highly recommended by FIABCI-Dominican Republic President Ilonka Castillo and FIABCI-Americas Secretary General Olga Gomez Cuesta, as a reputable organization.  It has mobilized to help the Haitian victims with products.   Baptist Haiti Mission (BHM) will accept products at the following addresses and ensure that they are delivered directly to the Haitian community:

Canada:

PO Box 11. 602 Wellington Ave. Wallaceburg, ON, N8A 4L5

Tel 519-627-3480

email: bhmcanada@bhm.org

 USA:

Unit 2019. 3170 Airmans Dr.  Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

 Products Desperately Needed:

• flashlights
• batteries
• toothpastes
• clorox
• soap
• diapers
• sanitary napkins
• antiseptics
• antibiotics
• tetans toxoid
• analgesic
• cotton
• gauze
• saline solution
• any non perishable food
• UTH juice
• UTH milk
• water
• soda crackers
• Cans of:
  • Beans
  • Sausages
  • Sardines

Financial Contributions:

You can make a cash donation through our FIABCI Dominican Republic chapter who will accept transfer to the following account and will personally purchase supplies needed and ensure that they reach the Haitian community:  

 THE BANK OF NEW YORK

A.B.A 021000018

SWIFT: IRVTUS3NXXX

BENEFICIARY BANK:

BANCO POPULAR DOMINICANO, C. POR A.

Address: TORRE POPULAR AV. JOHN F. KENNEDY

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic.

SWIFT: BPDODOSX

Beneficiary: FIABCI REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

Account (US$ transfer): 752204180

Account (Euro transfer): 753342211

Please send a copy of your contribution to fiabcird@gmail.com in order to follow up.  A formal receipt and donation report will be sent to you afterwards.

Corporate Contributions

Companies are urged to visit http://business.un.org to learn about specific financial and relief needs in the wake of this tragedy. The United Nations has a UN-Business partnership platform designed to match the needs of UN organizations with the resources and capacities of the private sector in humanitarian emergencies such as this.

Ongoing Contributions:

Please periodically visit http://business.un.org to check for updates on how your organization can help.

Disasters of this magnitude require the world’s attention and support, and the international business community can play an important role in disaster relief and re-building. In the FIABCI spirit of shared global responsibility for a better world, we urge you and your company to consider Helping Haiti in this time of need.  Please check back in a few days at www.FIABCIcares.com which will keep you informed regarding support for Haiti.

Let’s gather together with strength and courage to help Haiti rebuild and find the strength for the Haitian people.  Please keep them in your Thoughts and Prayers. 

Together we can make a difference.