Relief agencies from all across the world have been working diligently ever since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on January 12. Muslim organizations have played a pivotal role as well. It is estimated that 3 million Haitians have been affected by the earthquake and 200,000 have died. 

The Council, ISNA and several other American organizations set up funds to assist relief work as soon as possible. From flying volunteer Doctors to donating food and hygiene kits, the Chicago Muslim community also donated generously to the people of the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere.  

By press time, Khalil Demir, executive director of Chicago-based Zakat Foundation, had been to Port-au-Prince twice since the earthquake and helped mobilize aid faster since they were already working in Haiti before the earthquake.  Since the airport was not operating, Zakat Foundation took trucks of supplies by road from the Dominican Republic. Read more...