Lao American Community Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              

January 15, 2010

CONTACT:          Sirch Chanthyasack, MBA

                                Chief Executive Officer

                                (415) 680-4027 or Sourichanh@lana-usa.org

The Laotian American National Alliance (LANA) would like to express our love and support to the people of Haiti, Haitian American community and the Haitian diaspora suffered from the worst earthquake to hit the area in more than 200 years. We are personally and deeply sorry for your loss.

On Tuesday, a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Entire communities have been ripped apart and as many as 3 million people have been directly affected. This is a tragic human disaster that continues to unfold even as relief efforts make their way to the country’s capital. This could possibly be one of the most devastating global natural disasters in recent history, potentially rivaling Southeast Asia’s tsunami in 2004, which killed more than 200,000 people.

Cash is best! To buy exactly what they need. Instantaneous if people give online. The most pressing immediate needs are water, food, and shelter. Where and ways to help:

The White House: President Barack Obama http://www.whitehouse.gov/haitiearthquake

-         Clinton Foundation http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/

-          Red Cross http://american.redcross.org/supporthaiti

-          Center for International Disaster Information http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/country/haiti/eq/

United Nation organizations:

-         World Food Program https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti

-         UNICEF http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLEJSOALpE&b=1023561

-         The World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization https://www.pahef.org/donate/donate.aspx?source=Her

-         Central Emergency Response Fund http://ochaonline.un.org/cerf/DonateNow/HowtoDonate/tabid/1819/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Our common humanity demand WE ACT. This is a top priority for the U.S. Federal government.

LANA is asking and encouraging all Americans and people of the world to help in any way they can.

Sourichanh (Sirch) Chanthyasack, MBA