And help they need.

I just heard Haiti's Prime Minister say that he thinks "hundreds of thousands could be dead after devastating quake"................

I hope he is wrong.

Really? I hope he's wrong as well. Wow. What a horrible situation. Has anyone alse heard anything about what the possible death toll might've been?

There is a lot of speculation, but no one knows for certain exactly how many people are dead and/or trapped right now. There was a German think tank that guessed the casualties around 10,000 or so,
I really doubt that figure for the following reasons:

1. Haiti did not have many tall buildings and cement infrastructure.
2. The type of quake and length of tremor gave people time to run for cover.
3. Haitian resiliency, mental toughness and ability to survive against all odds.

I would venture to say that hopefully the casualties are in the low estimates neighborhood of 1,000 with many more injured. But the caveat factor is the 72 hour time frame, that rescuers have to extract people trapped in cement rubble, and give them emergency medical help, transfusions, and much needed water to prevent dehydration, and recovery from shock.
The dying in the aftermath of the quake because of lack of food, disrupted communications, possible transmitted diseases because of poor hygiene and lack of water, is more a cause for concern.

You bring up valid points but keep in mind that Port-au-prince is densely and tightly populated. I've read reports of homes sliding off of cliffs. I fear that the numbers that are going to come out will shock us all.

So far, the news media is going with what the prime minister said.

As per CNN:

-----At least 100 U.N. workers unaccounted for,,,,,,,
-----Doctors Without Borders: many of it's staff of 800 unaccounted for......
-----Haiti's main prison destroyed......many prisoners escaped............
-----Obama promises full-scale relief effort.................
-----Coast Guard ships, cutters, Navy carrier en route.

Use your deductive reasoning tools.
Who lives in cement houses in Port-au-Prince? and in Petionville? The well to do in small families.
The homes that slid off the cliffs were single family homes, and may not have been occupied.
Thankfully schools were out at the time the quake hit, so the loss of life was contained in that respect.
Earthquake damage in shanty towns and wood homes is not quite as bad as tall cement buildings.
Had this magnitude earthquake hit Santo Domingo, the human loss would have been tremendous.

Here is the thread for you (Originally furnished by Atabey):

http://www.worldeqlipse.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17)

Damn!

Obama will never pass up a chance to get his face on TV. How shameful!

There was no reason for his photo-op. Past presidents never did. They would just issue a statement by their press office and get to work.

INTERNATIONAL AID PLEDGES

The United Nations is releasing $10 million from its emergency funds.

The Irish telecommunications company Digicel said it would donate $5 million to aid agencies and help repair the damaged phone network.

The European Commission has approved $4.37 million with more funds likely.

Spain has pledged $4.37 million, and sent three planes with rescue teams and 100 tons of emergency relief equipment.

The Netherlands has donated $2.91 million and will send a 60-person search-and-rescue team.
Germany gave $2.17 million and sent an immediate response team. Another team with 20 rescue dogs is on standby.
China will donate $1 million, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Sweden has offered $850,000 along with tents, water purification equipment and medical aid.

Venezuela has sent doctors, firefighters and rescue workers.
Mexico will send doctors, search-and-rescue dogs and infrastructure damage experts.
France is sending two planes with doctors, food and medical equipment.
Britain has sent 64 firefighters with search-and-rescue dogs and 10 tons of equipment
Iceland is sending 37 search-and-rescue specialists.
Taiwan is flying in 23 rescue personnel and 2 tons of aid and equipment.
Israel is sending an elite army rescue unit including engineers, rescue workers, doctors and medics.


Source: The Associated Press