Celebrities appeal for Haiti quake relief

Haitian-born music star Wyclef Jean led an army of celebrities in an urgent appeal for aid following the devastating earthquake.

LOS ANGELES, January 13, 2010 (AFP) - Haitian-born music star Wyclef Jean led an army of celebrities Wednesday in an urgent appeal for aid following the devastating earthquake which rocked the star's Caribbean homeland.

Jean said in statements on his website and on micro-blogging network Twitter that the earthquake had been "a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion" and that millions in Port-au-Prince were in peril.

"I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse," Jean said. "The over two million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now."

Jean, who is en route to his homeland, called on the US military to spearhead the relief effort and urged the wider international community to "rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible."

The 37-year-old former Fugees star urged people to donate to a special fund set up by his long-runing Yele Haiti Foundation (wwww.yele.org).

Jean, who was born in Haiti but moved to the New York area as a youngster, is a roving ambassador for his native country and has worked with the United Nations World Food Program to help tackle food shortages in the country.

Jean's foundation has received high-powered support from other celebrities in recent years, most notably Hollywood power couple and humanitarian campaigners Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Pitt and Jolie, who have previously visited Haiti to help Jean's foundation, said In a statement Wednesday they were "devastated" news of the earthquake and pledged their support for relief efforts.

"We are devastated by the news from Haiti," the duo said.

"We will work closely with our good friend Wyclef Jean to support the humanitarian efforts on the island and help those who have been injured and left without homes and shelter."

Elsewhere a bevy of celebrities from the entertainment world took to Twitter to call for support.

"People in Haiti need our help and attention right now," actor-director Ben Stiller wrote.

Husband and wife Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore also tweeted vigorously on the issue, directing followers to UNICEF's Haiti relief effort website.

Former reality television star Nicole Richie followed suit, writing in a post: "To donate to the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Haiti & Caribbean region, please visit: www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake."

Singer Adam Lambert of "American Idol" fame also directed fans to UNICEF. "Please, everyone donate even the smallest of what you can," he wrote. "We are so fortunate. Let us give where truly needed."

Lindsay Lohan urged followers to support the US State Department's relief effort. "Please help them..... I know I will as much as I can," she wrote.

Other celebrities issuing appeals included hiphop mogul Sean "P.Diddy" Combs, rapper and actor LL Cool J, DefJam records founder Russell Simmons and actress Jessica Alba.

Meanwhile the Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) group -- whose members include Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone, South African-born actress Charlize Theron, and actors James Franco and Josh Brolin -- joined the appeal.

APJ has a long connection with Haiti through its Project Haiti fund which has helped fund the construction of several key facilities including a hospital which was destroyed in the quake.

"Homes lie destroyed, people are stranded away from their family, and many affected Haitians are in desperate need of medical attention," the group said in a statement.