Status updates on Haiti

Aid on the way
Desperately needed aid from around the world slowly made its way into Haiti. Planes carrying teams from China, France, Spain and the U.S. landed at Port-au-Prince’s airport with searchers and tons of water, food, medicine and other supplies. But logistical problems were making delivery difficult.

Up to 50,000 killed
The Red Cross federation estimated that 45,000 to 50,000 people were killed, based on government figures and a wide network of Haitian volunteers.

Obama pledges help
President Barack Obama said “one of the largest relief efforts in our recent history” is moving toward Haiti. To the Haitians, Obama promised: “You will not be forsaken.”

UN worker rescued
A newly arrived search team pulled a UN worker alive from the organization’s collapsed headquarters. But officials said 36 UN personnel have been killed in the earthquake and nearly 200 are missing.

Civilian flights banned
The Federal Aviation Administration halted all civilian flights to Haiti after some flights spent hours circling while awaiting permission to land at an already crowded airport that lacked sufficient supplies for refueling. The “ground stop” on civilian aid flights to Haiti was extended until at least 8 p.m. Thursday, according to advisories posted on the FAA’s Web site

Americans try to leave
The State Department announced one American had died in Haiti, saying that at least 164 U.S. citizens have been evacuated since the quake. Another 370 Americans were awaiting flights out, he said.

Ex-presidents recruited
President Obama tapped former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to lead private sector fundraising efforts for Haiti.

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HOW TO HELP

* You can help immediately by texting "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be charged to your cell phone bill and given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts.

* Wyclef Jean, a rapper and hip-hop artist from Haiti, urged people to text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 toward earthquake relief. Yéle Haiti is a grassroots movement inspiring change in Haiti through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment, according to its Web site.

* The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747. The Red Cross has also set up a Web site to help family members find and contact relatives.

* You can also go online to organizations such as the Red Cross and MercyCorps to make a contribution to the disaster relief efforts.

The FBI warned Internet users to be wary of e-mail messages seeking donations in the aftermath of the quake. People who want to send money or assistance should contribute to known organizations and should be careful not to respond to unsolicited e-mails, officials said.

Other Web sites accepting donations include:

-Haitian Health Foundation
-Hope for Haiti
-UNICEF
-International Medical Corps
-Beyond Borders
-AmeriCares