The food crisis in the country of Haiti is growing increasingly severe, where more than half the population of 9 million live on less than $1 a day. With food prices rising drastically and the devastation of the 2008 hurricane season destroying a majority of the country’s primary crop of rice, families have resorted to eating mud pies to avoid starvation. Amid the chaos and turmoil that have come as a result of rising food costs, children have been forced to experience what is widely known in Haiti as “Clorox hunger,” a hunger so strong that it feels like the stomach is being eaten by bleach.

You are urged to contact your congressional representative and implore them to respond immediately to the needs of the millions of Haitian children that face this harrowing existence by:

• Providing emergency funding to the United Nation’s World Food Program specifically for Haitian relief.
• Granting United States Temporary Protected Status to Haitian immigrants through the passage of H.R. 522 (sponsored by Representative Alcee L. Hastings).
• Encouraging the expedition of Haiti’s debt cancellation (Jubilee Act) so that much needed funds can be directed to the immediate needs of the Haitian people.

 Due to the lengthy mail-screening process of Congress, it is helpful to fax a copy of your legislative correspondence. Fax numbers, telephone numbers and addresses for legislators are available at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

Click here for a sample letter that can assist you in creating your correspondence with your legislators.