Here is the email I received from a friend at the Canadian Red Cross. They tell me that donations via shortcode are now live today.

The Canadian Red Cross is pleased to now offer Canadians the convenient option of donating via text messaging. Donors interested in this option must simply text REDCROSS to 30333 and a one-time donation of $5 will be added to their mobile phone bill. The charge will be posted once the donor responds to a confirmation text. Text messaging donations are available in $5 increments.

Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply to donation texts. All charges are billed by and payable to the mobile service provider. The service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the Canadian Red Cross by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mobilegiving.ca. Donors can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 30333.

So there you go. Text REDCROSS to 30333 to donate $5. Please pass this message along.

The geology
- 7.3 magnitude quake at 16:53:09 on January 12th, 2010
- epicentre of quake, 15km from Port-au-Prince, 10km depth
- at least 12 aftershocks between 5.0-5.9 magnitude since
- first earthquake of this magnitude to hit Hispaniola since 1751

The numbers
- RCMP Sergeant Mark Gallagher among dead. Was on UN Peacekeeping mission.
- including Gallagher, four Canadians are confirmed dead
- 13 Canadians injured
- 550 Canadians have been located
- 1415 Canadians are missing
- between 50,000-100,000 Haitians dead
- one third of Haitian population (3 million) affected by quake
- Catastrophic infrastructure damage in Port-au-Prince (satellite image for Google Earth)

The evacuation
- First wave of Canadian wave of evacuees landed in Montreal last night
- CF flights have evacuated 272 Canadians
- Three Canadian flights into Port-au-Prince

Deployed support and facilitation of foreign deployment
- HMCS Athabaskan and HMCS Halifax en route to Haiti. Includes equipment and helicopters.
- Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney has exempted foreign nationals on non-commercial aircraft from obtained temporary visas if they are on their way to provide relief to Haiti
- Canada has been refueling stop for Russian and Chinese aircraft en route to Haiti
- CF operation dubbed HESTIA

Financial Aid
- CIDA Minister Bev Oda has set up Haiti relief fund to match Canadian donations up to $50 million
- Ontario government has contributed $1 million to Haiti earthquake relief
- British Columbian government has contributed $500,000
- CRA warns donors to be informed of charities
- Staff fundraiser to be held on Parliament Hill for Haiti relief effort on January 25th at 6pm. Contact achristiano@summa.ca for details.

Canadian Reporters on the scene with Twitter
- @smithjoanna (TorStar)
- @jorgebarrera (Canwest)
- @Stephen_Maher__ (Chronicle Herald)
- @perreaux (Globe and Mail)
- @althiaraj (Sun Media)
- My twitter list of reporters reporting on the Haiti relief effort (on the ground or en route)

Canada is on the scene for disaster relief while humanitarian groups are also supporting the effort.

The physical infrastructure in Haiti was terrible even before the earthquake and many homes have collapsed.

There are over 2,000,000 people in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and many of them need assistance.

Please consider donating to help the people of Haiti.

Latest news about the Haitian earthquake

Information for Canadians in Haiti:
Canadian Embassy
Delmas between Delmas 75 and 71
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Telephone: 011 (509) 2249-9000 (Embassy)
Fax: 011 (509) 2249-9920
Email: General: prnce@international.gc.ca

Some pan-partisan Hill folks have set up a Facebook group with links where you can donate too.