Tag Archives: Haiti

HAITI NEEDS YOUR HELP!

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Ok folks. No glamour here. No sexy starlets. No red carpet première  and  no A listers.

Just pure tragedy. Plain and simple.

Haiti, the second largest Caribbean island has been hit with a terrible, horrific earthquake (7.0 magnitude) and the devastation has been displayed worldwide.  Thousands upon thousands of people have been killed(The Red Cross has reported an estimated figure of 50K so far)  displaced out of their homes, lost family members and are in much need of serious medical attention. Most of these people had very little to begin with now they have zero. Nada. Nothing.

Port-au-Prince, the capital city is basically gone. Destroyed. Scenes of buildings collapsed, homes destroyed and people running ,crying & screaming in the streets trying  to find their families and friends have been shown all over the world. A few television producer friends of mine were able to send some texts saying that they can’t stop crying as they are reporting on the horrific scene in the streets. The worst they say are the people trapped in the collapsed buildings, some as 9 storeys high that have no way of getting immediate help.  Thousands are severely injured and in immediate need for medical help but there are limited resources at this point so they have to wait. It maybe too late for some.

According to the Red Cross about  three million people were effected by the earthquake and the country is in immediate need of supplies, medical help and food.

Relief planes have been seen carrying supplies & aid into the devastation and many humanitarian groups & people are struggling to get the supplies like food and clothes to victims due to the obstruction of the main roads from the earthquake.

The Obama Administration urges all Americans who are trying to  find their family members  to call the State Department at 888-407-4747.

For the rest of you that want to help, here are some organizations that are in immediate need. The Ravi Report has been told that as of now, monetary funds are being requested more so than food or clothing.

How to help Haiti

1.  www.redcross.org – click the ” donate now” button at top and then International Response Fund or call 1-800-Red-Cross.

2.www. americares.org is a disaster relief organization delivers medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world. Call 1-800-486-HELP . All donations will be used for  medicine, medical supplies and for expenses for providing that medical aid.

3. www.doctorswithoutborders.org or call 1-888-392-0392.

4. www.imcworldwide.org – contributions will go towards medical supplies, medicine and emergency kits and transporting the supplies. 1-800-481-4462.

5. www. opusa.org or call 1-800-678-7255, or mail a check to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave., Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

6. www.yele.org– founded by singer Wyclef Jean, the organization helps to improve the education, health and community development in Haiti. Text YELE to 501501 to donate.

7. www. Unicefusa.org or 1-800-4-UNICEF.

8. www.pih.org– Partners in Health for the past 25 years have given help in Haiti.  1-617-432-5256.

Also for daily updated information, contact the Embassy of Haiti in Washington D.C. at www.haiti.org.

Many NY fundraisers will be organized in the coming weeks so please stay in touch with The Ravi Report for updates/coverage.

The journey & prayers continue….

Ravi

SPECIAL NY EVENT COVERAGE: Nigel Barker Captures The Heart of Haiti Through His Lens

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For those that don’t know Nigel Barker well, there is really only one thing that you need to know about him-the man cares. Period. Plain and simple. Be it  to help select America’s Next Top Model where Barker serves as a judge for several seasons or as a humanitarian, trying to save the seals from being butchered or bringing awareness to the severe living conditions of the people of Haiti, the multi- talented photographer, celebrity judge and world famous lensman just cares about people and humanity no matter what.

Nigel Barker and beautiful wife Cristen Chen at Edeyo charity event at Milk Studios.

Nigel Barker and beautiful wife Christen Chen at Edeyo charity event at Milk Studios.

That’s why it was no surprise to see over 800 people on January 8  attend the glamorous charity event unveiling Nigel’s newest exhibit “Hait:Hunger & Hope“at the prestigious and world famous Milk Studios in NY. (www.milkstudios.com).  Nigel along with his stunning wife Christen celebrated with friends, guests  & celebrities who came to support  and view Nigel’s thought provoking  photos from his recent trip to Haiti, a place where poverty is as common as a yellow cab in Manhattan. The charity event raised thousands of dollars as the beautiful people of NY came in droves and braved the bitter cold to help the celebrity photographer celebrate his new exhibit which ran until January 13.

The exhibit took guests inside the world of many Haitians desparate for change

The exhibit took guests inside the world of many Haitians hopeful for change.

The event was to  benefit “Edeyo” (www.edeyo.org)  an NY based organization that helps raise money for improvised children in Haiti. The benefit was attended by many well known people from the fashion, arts, music and business industries  that came to support the well loved photographer. Nigel and his group travelled to Haiti last year during the food riots and documented what he saw with exclusive photographs and a film.  The pictures were on display throughout the studio in larger than life sized prints, featuring some of the most beautiful children and people from Haiti I have ever seen. Barker captured the essence of how the Haitians live and how much they are in need of help from others. The daily struggles, the hardships and the glimmer of hope in the eyes of the children, were all captured by Nigel in his journey to Haiti.

Edeyo's founder Unik Ernest and friends pose for The Ravi Report

Edeyo’s founder Unik Ernest and friends pose for The Ravi Report

I have known Nigel for years and when he wants to do something, he gets  it done. He is very supportive of many organizations and continues to bring awareness to serious issues  through his ability as a top lensman by capturing the essence of the subject matter from anywhere in the world he travels to. He tells a story through his camera, a special talent that only a few have and can utilize effectively.

Hunger & Hope" collection.

From the Nigel Barker “Haiti: Hunger & Hope” collection.

For more information, do check out www.edeyo.org for a complete look at Nigel’s amazing work and how you can help the people of Haiti have a better life.

Ravi

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