In just a few days, the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh has received more than $52,000 in contributions to provide emergency aid to the victims of the devastating earthquake on Haiti.  The Pittsburgh funds are part of more than $2 million that has come into Jewish Federations throughout North America.

“Our donors recognize that we are nationally recognized as one of the best non-profits to respond quickly in raising and distributing funding to meet critical needs,” said Jeff Finkelstein, UJF President and CEO.  “One-hundred percent of all the contributions being raised to help the Haitian people are being forwarded to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for emergency aid.”

“Pittsburgh, along with many Federations are directing funds to our overseas partner, the JDC, because of the tremendous expertise they have in responding efficiently and effectively to natural disasters throughout the world,” he added.

One of the most moving aspects of the relief effort, thanks to JDC funding, has been the quick action taken by the Israel Defense Forces.  IDF immediately sent a complete field hospital into the area, making it the first portable medical facility operational in Haiti.

The field hospital encompasses 125 personnel, including 40 doctors, 25 nurses and paramedics; a pharmacy; a children's ward and a neonatal unit; a maternity ward; an intensive care unit; an emergency room; two operating rooms; a radiology department; a surgical department; and an internal medicine department. The hospital can treat approximately 500 patients each day and, in addition, will perform preliminary surgeries.

The Jewish Federations purchased medical equipment including infant incubators and orthopedic devices to support the IDF Medical Corps. 

In the field hospital set up in Port-au-Prince, members of the IDF medical staff are in a race against time to save lives.  Thirty percent of the injured in the hospital are in serious condition, 50% are moderately injured and the rest are lightly injured. More than half of the injured are under the age of 16. The majority of injuries are limb injuries and bone fractures.

As of Wednesday, 104 life-saving operations had been performed and seven babies were born.

To support these efforts, contributions can be made online by clicking here or by sending a check, made payable to UJF/Haitian Relief Fund, 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 

In partnership with JDC, in addition to supporting the IDF field hospital, the funding will also support other short-term needs in Haiti.  They include:

• Working with Heart-to-Heart International, a U.S. non-governmental organization, to provide emergency medical assistance, equipment and other services;
• Exploring partnerships with other organizations in Haiti;
• Working with IsraAID, which sent 15 members to Haiti to help with Operation Blessing, an effort funded by the American Jewish Committee and several Federations. An additional dozen people are expected in Haiti shortly; 
• Working with USAID and Interaction to send additional medical personnel and supplies to Haiti;
• Coordinating with HIAS on immigrant protection issues for Haitians who are currently in the process of deportation;  
• Working with the National Association of Jewish Chaplains to mobilize chaplains trained in disaster spiritual care and partnering with the American Red Cross for deployment. 

The JDC is the largest international Jewish humanitarian assistance organization in the world and has played a critical, often life-saving role in most important events in Jewish history taking place during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.  Building on decades of relief and development experience, JDC also provides effective, non-sectarian assistance worldwide to victims of natural disasters.

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