On Tuesday 12 a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Haiti causing near total destruction and widespread loss of life.

Estimates of the death toll vary from 30,000-100,000 casualties, with most news agencies picking the figure of 50,000 casualties on the first day.

To put this figure into some kind of context, that’s:

This figure is certain to rise as many have been left without shelter, food, water or basic healthcare.

Aid charities and NGOs from around the world are mobilising, and I encourage you to help if you can.

Here are just a few:

  1. The British Red Cross
  2. Oxfam
  3. Medecins Sans Frontieres

Image from the BBC world service.