On January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. The death toll is estimated to be as high as 100,000, with 3 million made homeless and many more injured. The destruction was indiscriminate. The presidential palace, schools, police stations and hillside shanties have been destroyed, leaving the poor Caribbean nation desperate for international help..

France's Economy minister, Christine Lagarde has contacted members of the influential 'Paris Club', including the UK, to acclerate the cancellation of Haiti's $78 million debt. President Sarkozy has called for an international conference on re-building Haiti. Haiti was a former French colony and there are nearly 80,000 Haitian expatriates living in France. Meanwhile, 36 Gendarmes from Antibes, as well as other emergency personnel from the Var have been sent to help the rescue effort.

Elsewhere, US President Barack Obama, responded to the first large-scale humanitarian disaster of his presidency by pledging $US100 million to Haiti with more to come.

You can make a much-needed Haiti relief donation locally through the MONACO CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. Contact can be made by email or by calling Jim Beerley on +33 (0)6 42 86 36 58

Google is to donate $1 million to help organizations providing relief and have also set up a CRISIS RESPONSE to help raise money for victims through CARE and UNICEF. You can also make donations through the French Red Cross - Croix Rouge. 

Since the earthquake on Tuesday evening, several new internet initiatives have been launched to help people search for missing friends and relatives.

The International Committee of the Red Cross added a section for Haiti on its Family Links Web site, to re-unite separated family members. The site allows earthquake victims to register themselves, or relatives, and to list names of the missing.

Ushahidi.com, a Web platform that aggregates mobile and online crisis reports geographically, now has a Haiti page that allows witnesses there to upload reports by phone, Twitter or e-mail. The site's Haiti map is tracking emergency situations such as collapsed buildings, trapped people, fires and quake aftershocks as well as where to find relief services such as medical tents and shelters.

The Miami Herald's Web site, launched Haiti Connect, a forum to search for relatives and friends by posting photos and soliciting information from other users.

Another site, Koneksyon, facilitates hundreds of discussion threads and gives advice on how to find and connect with Haitians in the aftermath of the quake.

One sad sign of the times though is the emergence of online scammers. Take a look here to learn a couple more simple, safe ways to donate to the cause, or contact one of the following well-established charities that are collecting donations for relief efforts:

PLEASE PLEASE don't let this simple warning put you off though - every penny will be needed to help get this devastated country back on its feet.

You can also send a check payable to: Croix-Rouge Monégasque, 27 Blvd de Suisse, MC 98000 Monaco. Mark the cheque on the back with 'Haiti'