Hope, despair in Haiti

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. -- Family and friends of missing Americans have searched the ruins themselves. They've hired private rescue teams. They've pleaded with the U.S. government to do more to help bring home loved ones who disappeared amid the rubble of earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

More than a week after the quake rocked the country, the grief of not knowing has become unbearable. Frustration and hopelessness have boiled into anger against the U.S. government.

"We know our daughter was there, and we want them to find her!" Leonard Gengel yelled earlier this week, hammering his fist on a table.

Gengel's daughter Brittany, whose 20th birthday was Thursday, is one of four Florida college students still missing. Two of their teachers also are missing at the Hotel Montana in Port-Au-Prince.

It remains unclear exactly how many Americans are missing. The U.S. Embassy in Port-Au-Prince had so far accounted for at least 9,400 of up to 45,000 Americans who were in Haiti before the quake. But some Americans may not have been affected by the devastation, and others may be OK but haven't contacted officials.

At least 35 Americans have been confirmed dead, with U.S. officials investigating reports of an additional 21 potential U.S. fatalities.

Friends and relatives want the Americans brought home -- dead or alive.

"I think everyone has accepted the fact that they're not going to find everyone alive, but we at least want to bury our loved ones on American soil and not under the rubble," said Forrest Masters, who is in Haiti helping search for a family friend.

Confusion has added to the frustration. At one point, Gengel was told by the university his daughter had been found, but the news turned out to be "bad intelligence" from a rescue crew in Haiti.

The school, Lynn University in Boca Raton, has hired private rescue teams to help search for the missing faculty and students, who were there to distribute food and visit schools and orphanages. Eight of their classmates escaped and have returned home.

"These kids went down there on a journey of hope, that's what it was called, and it's turned into a journey of hell," said Gengel, of Rutland, Mass.

Sally Baldwin, of Fort Worth, Texas, is praying for any word about her son, Brendan Beck, 35. He also is thought lost in the rubble of the Montana.

Beck, an engineer doing consulting work in Haiti, checked into the hotel for a night to catch a flight to another part of the country the next day. His mother is angry that she's not getting information from the government; U.S. officials say they're doing what they can under difficult conditions.

"Given that most Americans do not register with the embassy ... it is often impossible to say in these situations how many are missing," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said. "As for sharing information, we can always do a better job. ... I think we have been sharing the information we have, but many times it is just not enough to be of help to families in anguish."

Rescue efforts are slowly giving way to recovery of bodies, and there's a chance some may never be found.

But even a week after the earthquake hit, teams emerged from the rubble with improbable success stories -- including the rescue of several people. That leaves some hope for John Gianacaci, of Hopewell, N.J. His 22-year-old daughter, Christine, is one of the missing Lynn students.

"This is the United States of America. They perform miracles all across the world. ... Where's our miracle?"

HOW TO HELP

Here is a list of organizations accepting donations for earthquake-stricken Haiti:

• Water Missions International is preparing water-purification systems for deployment to Haiti. Anyone who wants to help can do so online at watermissions.org or by calling 843-769-7395 or text "WMI" to 85944, select yes, and a $10 contribution will appear on your next wireless statement.

• To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. The organization also is accepting donations through its International Response Fund, redcross.org. You also can donate through the local chapter by calling 764-2323 ext. 355 or make a secure donation online at LowcountryRedCross.org.

• To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit theIRC.org or call toll free, 1-877-REFUGEE.

• To donate to Oxfam’s emergency appeal, visit oxfam.org.uk

• InterAction, a coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations, has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it at interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.

CATHOLIC COLLECTION: Apart from this weekend’s special collection in Catholic parishes, individuals who wish to contribute may send a donation made out to the Diocese of Charleston, c/o Chancery West, 1662 Ingram Road, Charleston, SC 29407, with a memo indicating Haiti Relief. All money received will be used to support Catholic Relief Services in Haiti.

AME CHURCH COLLECTION: The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is urging members of the AME Church to send monetary support for health care services and emergency aid. Local congregations are urged to accept donations for the next two Sundays and forward as follows: Donations for Haiti can be made at www.ame16th.com, or sent to the Department of Global Witness and Ministry. For more information, go to ameglobal-missions.org.

FAMILY INQUIRIES: The State Department has set up a hot line for Americans to inquire about family in Haiti: 888-407-4747.