Aid organizations responding to the disaster in Haiti recommend cash donations rather than material donations because it will allow relief professionals to procure exactly what is needed, Inter Action, a group of international non-governmental organizations stated.

Cash donations do not use up other scarce resources such as transportation, staff time or warehouse space, Inter Action recommends.

Click here to see a list of Organizations responding and how to donate to them.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that medical supplies, food, water, tents and heavy equipment are huge and immediate needs for Haiti, a country that was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday afternoon.

The Secretary General praised the international response to the disaster saying it was the most heartening.

Haiti needs every ounce of help we can offer, Moon said Thursday adding that the top priority remains search-and-rescue operations to save those who are trapped under rubble.