Tech NGOs Working In Haiti

d5w writes "There are a thousand and one NGOs responding in some way to the disaster in Haiti, but the necessary infrastructure is usually overlooked when people give charity donations. In fact, some popular donation sites actively downgrade charities for spending on infrastructure. Here are two organizations responding in Haiti, though, that have a purely tech infrastructure focus: Télécoms Sans Frontières brings mobile telecom rigs and satellite phones to disaster sites, making sure that responders on the ground can communicate with each other and that individuals can contact families abroad; here's an eWeek story about TSF. MapAction sends experienced GIS people and GPS equipment to provide up-to-date mapping, which is important when the landscape has just changed drastically. Any others?"

Comments

Infrastructure?

[A. B3ttik]

"In fact, some popular donation sites actively downgrade charities for spending on infrastructure."

My guess is that it downgrades them for spending it on their OWN infrastructure (like phone lines, buildings, etc) as opposed to spending it on the recipient's infrastructure.

Infrastructure is pretty much at the top of the list for things that Haiti needs, since their "roads" look like dried riverbeds, running water is all but nonexistent, and power is provided only to major cities and only on a rotational basis.

Re:Infrastructure?

[GooberToo]

Things like better roads, cell service, and power can take a back seat until people with broken limbs are off the street and getting medical care.

But that's part of the problem. Without passable roads, many can not get to the medical infrastructure. And without phone service, large groups of people in rural locations are completely unable to obtain any type of aid at all. In fact, one of the first infrastructures restored to Hatti was airports and air traffic control. Yet such things obviously ranks low on your list of priorities; despite that fact its critical.

In the US, our highway and rail systems are actually part of our national defense - as is the case for all industrialized nations. Take a look at the back of many signs on major highways, many have DOD stamps and/or numbers used for DOD and national emergencies. Without these resources, nothing can effectively move. That's the way it is in Hatti right now. Supplies are piling up at airports because its difficult to move anything out. This is forcing helicopters to become one of the primary movers and helicopters are extremely poor substitutes for trucks and trains.

Remember, one truck can provide supplies for an entire village. It can take days for a helicopter to deliver the same quantity. And without simple things like phones, helicopters don't necessarily know the priorities of where supplies are most needed.

In many cases, we're not talking about building street lights and paving roads - we're talking about running water, a line to call for help, means to deliver people medical help, food, water, electricity, sanitation, means to dispose of bodies and trash, to protect against disease, so on and so on...

Remember, its widely believed one of the most significant technological advances for humans is plumbing and its associated water in and sanitation out. The need for basic infrastructure can not be stressed enough. It is extremely important.

Re:EWB

[sjalexander]

OK that failed utterly. Engineers Without Borders. http://www.ewb-usa.org/haiti.php they're not doing disaster relief per se but are involved in improving infrastructure in Haiti generally.

Re:Hat's off to the French.

[LWATCDR]

I can honestly say that the people from Haiti I have meet have all been wonderful people. I am sure that just like every group of people their are the good, the bad, and the terrible. I don't think one can say that Haitians hate or love any group. They are people. Right now all I can say is that they need our help and we need to help.
Simple as that and I suggest that we stop damning any nation that is helping. Heck Cuba is giving the US overflight rights for relief flights. Iceland is helping out. I have the greatest respect for every group that is helping out. At this point historical grudges are useless. All that matters is the future and helping. So yes Doctors without Boarder you are great. The Red Cross. You are great. American Airline "they flew in 50,000 lbs of supplies yesterday" you are great. The USCG you are great, The USN you are great. Catholic Relief services you are great. The kid that is going to give his or her allowance is great.
GET OVER IT the arguing and give a few dollars. As Clinton said, "right now we need a whole lot of people to each give even just a little". http://bit.ly/4vM63t is a list of some of the best charities to donate to.

And to the scammers out there taking money that should be going to help. I want you found, skinned alive, rolled in rock salt, and dunked in vinegar!

And you credit card companies. If you don't want to be damned for all time wave all credit card fees for donations to reputable charities retroactively.

Re:When the news first aired, they talked to a loc

[lammy]

That's a deeply cynical opinion of the world's humanitarian aid charities. I couldn't disagree more. After the US army has been and gone it will be the likes of Red Cross/Red Crescent, and Medecins Sans Frontieres who will provide ongoing medical support to the recovering community. These charities all declare breakdowns of where the donated money is spent. The initial relief effort has been hampered by a number of factors, but your claim that the Red Cross aren't really there to help people but simply to promote their brand and accumulate wealth is way off the mark. The people of Haiti will be in a much worse position if these groups are not present, and without donations from the public these groups would not exist at all. Maybe you're trying to justify your decision not to donate, and to some extent I'm trying to justify my decision TO donate, but I don't think you're representing these groups fairly with your statements.