How to Help Victims of Hurricane Matthew

Many organizations are collecting supplies and financial donations for victims of the deadly storm

Hurricane Matthew has officially left 473 people dead as of Oct. 11, according to the National Civil Protection headquarters in Port-au-Prince. But local officials in one southwestern region, Grand-Anse, said the death toll there alone tops 500.

The U.N. humanitarian agency in Geneva made an emergency appeal for nearly $120 million in aid, saying about 750,000 people in southwest Haiti alone will need "life-saving assistance and protection" in the next three months.

U.N. officials said earlier that at least 1.4 million people across the region need assistance and that 2.1 million overall have been affected by the hurricane. 

U.N. Deputy Special Representative for Haiti Mourad Wahba called it the country's worst humanitarian crisis since the devastating earthquake of 2010.

Many organizations are collecting supplies and financial donations for victims of the storm, which made landfall in Haiti as a Category 4 hurricane. It was the most powerful to threaten the Atlantic coast in more than a decade, affecting Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas.

A weakened Hurricane Matthew also impacted Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, with 39 deaths attributed there to the hurricane or causes linked to the storm like carbon monoxide poisoning, NBC News reported. 

Here are some organizations you can support to help victims of the storm:

International Red Cross: Over 3,000 volunteers and staff of the Red Cross in Haiti have been mobilized to aid communities in the path of powerful Hurricane Matthew and are prepared to deliver first aid and other medical care, clean water and sanitation and shelter assistance. Donate here. 

The American Red Cross was getting ready for a massive multi-state response to the hurricane. More than 500 disaster workers and 90 response vehicles are standing by in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, the Red Cross said. Donate here or donate $10 by texting 90999.

Volunteer Florida has established a volunteer registration link for those interested in assisting Floridians after Hurricane Matthew. Register here to volunteer.

Food For The Poor: The international relief and development organization expects to eventually send nearly two million pounds of rice to alleviate the food scarcity issues which Hurricane Matthew is going to cause. Donate here. 

The Salvation Army is mobilizing resources and personnel to assist with the international relief effort in Haiti and Jamaica. Donate here. 

UNICEF: The United Nation's Children's Fund is dedicated to helping children. Donate here to support its Matthew relief efforts. 

Save the Children is helping children and families with emergency assistance. Donate here.

CARE plans to provide clean drinking water, food assistance and emergency supplies such as tarps for shelter, blankets and hygiene kits, according to a press release. Donate here. 

Catholic Relief Services is ready to move personnel, and transport and deliver relief items to Haiti. Donate here. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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