A week after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti, search and rescue crews have found dozens of survivors. However, the U.N. estimates the number of casualties in the capital city of Port-au-Prince alone from 100,000 to 150,000.
Security is now the key issue as people are scrambling following the devastation. On Monday, the U.N. Security Council voted to send 3,500 more peacekeepers to Haiti to assist in the relief effort, while the Pentagon announced there are about 1,700 troops in Haiti, with an estimated 5,000 soldiers and Marines expected to be in the country later this week.
Support has been pouring in for the impoverished nation. The American Red Cross has raised nearly $112 million dollars for Haiti relief efforts. President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal has offered free land to people affected by the earthquake, saying “If it’s just a few individuals, then we will likely offer them housing or small pieces of land. If they come en masse we are ready to give them a region.”
“Hope for Haiti“, a global concert and telethon to raise money, will be co-hosted by Haitian-born Wyclef Jean and George Clooney and will air on ABC, BET, CBS, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC and VH1 starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT this Friday (January 22).
WYCLEF RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS
Speaking of Wyclef, he took to YouTube to address allegations that his Yele Haiti Foundation mismanaged donations.
At a press conference in New York, Wyclef admitted the organization has “made mistakes”, but he insisted that he has never personally benefited from the foundation’s work:
“As a young NGO, have we made mistakes?” Jean asked in New York yesterday. “Yes. Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefits? Absolutely not.” Showing his Haitian passport and US green card, the former Fugees member emphasised that he founded the charity with his own funds. “I wanted to make sure that Yele would not just be a foundation, but would actually be an NGO on the ground in Haiti because it’s the only way I could be effective to the Haitian people.
Hmmmm…..
PPL IN THIS COUNTRY ARE JUST A MESS. I AM HAITIAN AND IT DOESN’T SURPRISE ME THAT PPL WLD CHOSE THIS TIME TO NOW SAY THAT THIS MAN IS STEALING MONEY FROM A FOUNDATION THAT HE STARTED WITH HIS OWN DAMN MONEY. HE IS THE ONLY CELEBRITY OTHER THAN JIMMY JEAN LOUIS THAT HAS REALLY FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY. NO ONE HAS FOUGHT HARDER SO HOW CAN THEY NOW MAKE SUCH AN ACCUSATION. THE AMERICAN PPL HAVE SURPRISED ME WITH THEIR COMPASSSION AND SUPPORT OF THE TRAGEDY IN HAITI AT THE SAME TIME THEY DISGUST ME WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO WYCLE.
I commend Clef for his efforts to make a better Haiti. I saw a 60 minutes piece that featured Wyclef and all the help his Yele fund was doing for the people in Haiti and I could not believe how the people of Haiti was living like that.
How dare they try to kick the man while he is down? But, this America and I am not surprised. I have donated to Yele last week in light of the diaster and I believe my money will be allocated to the correct places.
May god continue to bless Wyclef he is a solider !!!
I don`t believe these false charges and accusations against Wyclef , from the beginning Clef used his own money,when no one else was even paying attention to Haiti, to start a organization that would aid and assist the Haitian people and help to improve conditions there.
I just found all of this sad, this man has been supporting Haiti since the Fugees’ inception, and then a tragedy happens and they try to call this Black man out? SMH.
Dont trust Wyclef for the life of me!!! he’s been involve in frauds in the past. From dealing with his clothing line, the mucis industry and sad 2 say i do believe he has or plans on taken some of the money from his charity 4 his own benefits. U ppl can continue 2 donate Wyclef all u want but my $$$ is going 2 a truthful organization and charity where i KNOW the ppl of Haiti will be helped…not this YELE crap this theif Wyclef is tryna push!!!
—–Lol, Wyclef is low level peon who’s role is to act as a liason between his country
—–and America. In return for his efforts, he gets rewarded with fame and a couple of
—–dollars. The man is a pure devil.
I’m confused as to who to make my check out to now. I don’t trust the Red Cross after the way they dealt with Hurricane Katrina. Suggestions?
I stiil think all that is unfortunately not innocent we can’t trust thoz ppl I never heard in the news that the money was used to rebuild homes buy essential things like food and water medicines I didn’t see ppl givin this money or material in the haitians hands thoz 112 million dollars ppl are yall tellin me to this date its still not used to concretely help them? All I heard was helicopters throwin away in the air some rice and media callin them wild animals fightin for food which is outrageous this is sad ! If I had money Ill try my best myself to help them and make sure they receive it! All that telethon tv coverage is a joke to entertain and gain money for themselvs not haitians!
Also I find this amazin that rich countries can give away quick money 112 when there is a disaster but we all know that africa is in constant disaster with aids no education no food but no one cares! Smh hoW sad
@7, i think Red Cross should be fine this time around…when remember who was President during that time! Now that we Obama I doubt any of that craziness shouls happen this time around….even though I’m still on the fence with Obama sending 100M 2 Haiti with all we have going on here, BUT thats another topic…
Heres: a few places you can check out and THEY R LEGIT!
* UNICEF: https://secure.unicefusa.org/
* DIRECT RELIEF: https://secure2.convio.net/dri/site/
* PARTNERS IN HEALTH: https://donate.pih.org
* AMERICAN RED CROSS: http://www.redcross.org
* WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti
* MERCY CORPS: https://donate.mercycorps...orIntent=Haiti+Earthquake
* SAVE THE CHILDREN: https://secure.savethechi...web_e_haiti_earthquake_10
* LAMBI FUND: https://app.etapestry.com...Haiti_1/OnlineGiving.html
* DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: https://donate.doctorswit...g/donate/donate-now-haiti
* CARE: https://my.care.org/site/...tion=form1&df_id=5000
Hopefully this helps
@ WillPwr..
Maybe go donate to Unik Ernest’s foundation? I know he is putting together a benefit concert with a bunch of celebs and he too has a foundation (can’t remember how to spell it.. but Google is your bfflz) that is actually based in Haiti as he still has many family members there.
Wyclef seems insincere and arrogant to me, BUT that is between him and God. what is between me and God is how i reach out to my fellow human beings in their time of need. so, i encourage us all to give, however we can. i’ve already donated to wyclef’s organization, and have no regrets about it, despite these arising allegations. how the organization chooses to spend the money is between it and God.
Well said #7……
We all know what kind of priority we are if we don`t have pale skin. Let`s continue to help our people the best way we can.
Peace in the spirit of my “HERO”, Malcolm X, (El Hajj Malik El Shabazz)
—-@ 7
—-You should try that ClintonBush.org website. It’s some charity fund that President
—-Obama helped organize.
—I’m not surprised at the allegations. I’ve always wondered how Wyclef stayed
—relevant; both financially and celebrity wise. The man has never had a solo hit
—record. Smh. That’s f*cked up that he’s been committing fraudulent acts with his
—charity.
Why was you boy Praz getting donations for Unicef. Subliminal he’s trying to tell yall Clef lying.
Clef cried at a press conference he held to denounce the claims and cried. When you cry you LIE. Just explain why the donations paid your rent and studio time. The tax return on The smoking Gun is official. Just admit it ,your Corrupt. Unicef and Red Cross gives 100% of your donations to the effort and Clef gives 70% if that.
He doesn’t seem sincere he just sounds upset … SAD. i will donate through other reputable organizations but not yale?? or yele?? coz there was a time i read somewhere his house was foreclosed, so people watch out, these people who cry on tv always LIE.
lets forget about him and just help HAITI, our bro and sis are dying there. pls pick other organizations no wyclef jean. please.
@13 and thats EXACTLY where both of my donations went! F^&K yele…im not paying 4 that new Bentley he’s riding in!
Honestly if he do takes so of the money….so fuking wat?
I want yall to believe the president/head crackers over at the redcross are fukin millionaires. No one is going to devote that much time and effort into something for nothing. No even the so call “non-profit” orgs. For Clef it may be different story becuz this is his home country and he is already rich.
wyclef will be on oprah tomorrow. maxwell and rihanna set to perform
Listen, HE SAID: “to put on a show, takes funds,” did HE not? Sure he did! …I watched CNN just this past Sunday, one of the reporters said that it usually takes some 3-months for funds, that YOU donate, to reach “the victims” – in this case – Haiti.
He ALSO said that the Red Cross will use THEIR-ALREADY available ‘reservoir-of-funds’ and replenish said reservoir with the funds YOU donate!
I already donated to the RED CROSS; If you have any “available-skills”, that might be needed NOW, why not, IF you can, go and help out? …And if NOT-NOW, then in the near-future?
X,Y,”and Z” — OUT!!
Prime example of throwing the baby out with the bath water. To all the folks who are being cynical towards any acts to help out the Haitians, what are YOU doing to help? If sitting at home, criticizing others for helping makes you feel good then so be it. But if you look at those footages and it doesn’t tug at your heart strings and make you extremely altruistic; then you need to check yourself for a pulse.
Empty pockets never held anyone back, empty hearts and minds do.
You better go, SENEGAL!! That’s what I’m talking about! But of course America will never do such a kind thing. Too many racists ppl here to secure an entire region for Haitians to live in peace after this tragedy!
In the case of Wyclef, I don’t know the case. But I’m looking at Senegal in a whole new light. Their Prez stepped up…. but the people in Haiti need to know they can go their if they want to start over since they won’t be allowed to come here (USA).
THANK YOU @ MEME!
YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT CLEF BUT I GUARANTEE HE CARES MORE ABOUT HAITI THAN ANY OF THESE SO-CALLED REPUTABLE CHARITIES DO. IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THE PEOPLE @ THE RED CROSS & OTHER CHARITIES AREN’T USING MONEY FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT THEN YOU ARE A DAMN FOOL!
YELE Haiti was 1st to act on this ish. It got a lotta publicity worldwide hence the COONING haters coz guess what! A black man got to act faster than the damn UN.
People are trying to get their names out there right now and they mad YELE is all the people worldwide know better than the rest.
They don’t like the fact that a black man doing positive thangs and getting the publicity huh!
I bet BONO will get more medals for helping HAITI than Clef!
First, let me say that I gave to Wyclef foundation. He is the only person that I know that has always tried to help his country.
Why don’t these people ask the RED CROSS ,where is all that money that it raised for New Orleans???
They did not use all that money on those victims. Nobody is making a stink about that.
People are in Haiti dying and you want to sit around and question the foundation. do that when the country is not in a ruins.
Either help out or shut the hell up. GET A LIFE.
awww….if only negr0es could read….
http://www.thesmokinggun..../2010/0114102wyclef1.html
Please read the following article! Do your research before you give your money to an organization.
http://www.thesmokinggun..../2010/0114102wyclef1.html
Thanks J Dakar
I believe these people who are in control of Wyclef and paying him to act as “ambassador” are teaching him a lesson. He may have stepped out of line and to put him back in line, they are showing the world who he really is.
Now I honestly believe he is a crook and have seen it with my own eyes. Trust, I know this mans family because they parade around as though they are big shots. I hope this man is exposed thoroughly and gets what is coming to him. I have produced fundraising events and benefit concerts and not one talent asked to be paid because they know what fundraising and benefit means. He is a fraud and its evident. How are you going to work out of the kitchen of your studio if you are an organization?
If you want your money to go to the right places, adopt a Haitian family who has been brought here from the earthquake zone. This is how Ludacris does it.
For YT to be calling someone else out for allegedly stealing, is like pot, kettle, black.
How about everyday people shouldn’t send money at all so many churches and other organizations are doing clothing drives why not send clothes that way you know that your help is not being misused you can bypass the whole worry of possibly misused funds and still contribute some sort of help
I still donated to Wyclef’s charity after knowing all that I know (however the accusations did make me limit the amount of times I donated to his charity).
The Red Cross and Salvation army have been shady in the pass as well so….
Oh so when a brotha is doing charitable work we need to “do our research”? How many of you bothered to research any other organizations? All of a sudden you don’t trust him but you trust the white folks sitting in mansions eating steaks and caviar while people in Haiti can’t even get any f*cking water? Gtfoh! These people you give your money to without question probably can’t even find Haiti on a map. I’ll give my money to Wyclef. He has much more invested in that country than some rich fat cats sitting around sipping champagne calling the Haitians savages for trying to survive. I would love to see how “savage” those people would become if they were dropped off in the middle of one of the poorest places on earth with no food or water.
h haiti to me ia actin like the u.s. better help them ….they over there
…….actin ungrateful … fighting each other…i even seen some throw
….. the gang sign up …im like what ever ….. i admit not all are that way
,,,,,, but can we all just get along …..wyclef i love you man
….. and you will be blessed
(Sighh) People are never satisfied. Not all but some people still want to complain about what America is doing to help..thats just retarded.
And no, sorry….i dont trust wyclef either..not judging him just a gut feeling.
I donated because Ive actually seen him in action helping Haiti before all this. Nuff said for me. As far as the accusations……that has yet to be seen.
Senegal has my vote! Just beautiful! Give houses, land, or a whole region to those people. I want to adopt one of the orphans, seriously. But would love to see all or most of them reunited with any surviving family.
—-@ 35
—-So, because Wyclef’s black we need to look the other way while he commits
—-fraudulent acts with charity funds? I think not. I’ve seen the proof, and no amount
—-of tears nor black pride will make me ever look the other way when it concerns him
—-or Yele.
—Secondly, why should we give a damn what other charity organizations are doing
—w/ the funds. Wyclef’s black, so his @ss should be checked us, especially when
—-he’s supposedly raising money that is for the Haitian people.
@ Circa-1984
You are talking out of both sides of your mouth. On the one hand you say you won’t give him money just because he is black. Then you say since he is black we should scrutinize him more. You can’t have it both ways.
I find it VERY odd that before the Haitian quakes, no one had a problem w/ Wyclef’s foundation… in fact, everyone was praising him for it. Now all of a sudden it’s the worst thing ever? Might it be that he’s actually TRYING to help the people instead of letting them languish for as long as possible like the US government?I mean literally tens of millions of dollars have been misappropriated by the Red Cross, yet we should trust them blindly? Give me a break.
And why is George W Bush, an admittied racist, and Bill Clinton, an undercover racist…stumping for support of Haiti? THAT seems odd to me. I think maybe the US government is thinking of giving aid for taking the country over militarily and possibly using it for a military outpost.
I totally missed this drama, I donated money to 3 organizations including Yele, I don’t believe in putting all my eggs in one basket and truthfully since rarely if ever the total donation goes to those in need it really isn’t strange to see money not going where it should.
To those who said donate clothes, the truth is that clothing is not what needs to get into the country asap, that’s food and meds and yeah I will be donating clothing and shoes but right now they need cold hard cash, can’t buy antibiotics with my used jeans
if negroes could read indeed. non-profit management 101, employees and board members are paid from the charity’s funds. non-profits do not run themselves nor do members of the administrative staff work for free. small business owners know and do this as well.
my suspicions lie with the timing of the returns or lack thereof for several years. the flip-side of all of this is what WAS ACTUALLY DONE with the donations. where are the links to that??
as for the thieving azz red cross, what are the bonuses looking like for the piss poor azz job done by the board for the last few years?? yep a not-for-profit not only paying salaries but bonuses too.
never again would they get a dime out of me. I donate to local charities with admin costs of 10% or less, where I can see the fruits of my donation blossom.
yo ka kraze te a men yo paka kraze haitian-yo