New Yorkers are on the forefront of an international effort to help the people of Haiti in the wake of a powerful earthquake that the country's ambassador to the United States calls a disaster of epic proportions.

Tens of thousands of people are feared dead, although there is no official way of knowing the exact death toll until the damage is assessed.

The International Red Cross estimates three million people have been affected by the magnitude 7.0 quake, which hit just before 5 p.m. Tuesday about 10 miles from the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Earlier on Wednesday, Haitian Senator Youri Latortue told the Associated Press that deaths from the quake could reach 500,000 – about five percent of the country's population of more than nine million. Other officials estimate 100,000 are dead.

The Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Joseph Serge Miot, is among the dead, and the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission is missing.

Aftershocks as strong as 5.5 and 5.9 could be felt in the neighboring Dominican Republic and the island of Hispaniola. The aftershocks are also still rattling Port-au-Prince, as people pull bodies from collapsed homes.

The main airport is said to be "fully operational" and open to relief flights.

However, Haiti's National Palace has been flattened along with schools, hospitals, a prison, and other government buildings.

Ambassador Raymond Alicide Joseph said there is a dire need for a hospital ship off the coast of Haiti.

A hospital in the capital collapsed, leaving many of the dead and injured to lay in the streets; those alive were forced to plead with doctors for help.

Joseph is asking for nations Haiti has helped in the past, to help during this time of distress.

"It's a major catastrophe for Haiti,” he said. “We have gone through others before. I'm quite sure that the Haitian people, courageous as they are, will come out of it in unity."

As New Yorkers continue to pledge their support, a group of lawmakers and religious leaders, including Reverend Al Sharpton, gathered Wednesday night to pray outside the Haitian consulate.

Sharpton and other leaders say they'll be traveling to Haiti on Friday to show solidarity with the country.

"This is not a time for partisan politics this is not a time for who we like or who we get along with. Those that may not walk together need to stand together for Haiti now," Sharpton said.

"All of us here, every elected representative and advocacy group and individual is here to help those families in need and we will work together with you Reverend Sharpton and the governor of our great state for whatever we can do to make a difference," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson and other city and state officials gathered in Brooklyn to promise aid to the country and help those in New York get in touch with their family members.

"We pledge an effort that will be consistent and lasting," said the governor.

"New Yorkers know firsthand how much the help of people from around the world can mean in rebuilding from a disaster,” said Bloomberg. “We saw the world come to our aid back on 9/11 and we want to make sure that the world comes to the aid of the Haitian people. And as a city we are more than ready to extend our help to the people of Haiti to the extent that we possibly can."

"The buildings fell in, you're trapped. And you couldn't come outside," said Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams. "There no ambulances, you can't contact anyone, you don't know where your family is."

In East Flatbush, Brooklyn, home to the largest ethnic Haitian community in the United States, many Haitian-Americans have had difficulty getting in touch with relatives in the country, where phone service is almost non-existent. Others are watching television, trying to get news of what's going on there, and hoping for the best.

"My brother and my daughter-in-law, her mother, she was at work at that time. But I don't know how I can say it, because I'm still trying to figure out what's going on, if any one of them [is] alive or if they find any one of them,” said Jean Bernard Mode, of his family in Haiti. “So that's what I say, I don't know what happened yet."

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said he has spoken with phone companies to see if a call center can be set up.

The Red Cross is also urging New Yorkers to help with the recovery. Local leaders echoed that call, but reminded city residents that money, and not goods, is more helpful at this time.

"Whenever there's a big disaster, 9/11, tsunami, a hurricane, New Yorkers always step up to the plate,” said Rosemary Mackey of the Red Cross. “And the most important thing we can ask people to do is donate funds to this effort. This is going to be a long-term relief and recovery effort."

Mayor Bloomberg confirmed that teams of city police officers and firefighters have volunteered to help, but with ports inaccessible and virtually no infrastructure remaining in Haiti, the mayor warned against any individuals attempting to travel to Haiti.

"I don't think we'll see violence, widespread violence," said New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who helped the nation build its police force and just recently returned from a trip to the country. "I think the people will come together, band together, that's what they've always done. They're really very inspirational people, that's Haiti's strongest asset, the grittiness, the toughness of their population."

Kelly, however, said that Haiti had "pre-existing conditions" which made the impoverished nation "the last place you want an earthquake."

President Barack Obama on Wednesday pledged the full support of the U.S. to those affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

The president said he is launching an swift, aggressive and coordinated effort to save lives. He says search and rescue teams will be arriving over the next few days to bring medical equipment and other supplies.

"This rescue and recovery effort will be complex and challenging," Obama said. " As we move resources into Haiti, we will be working closely with partners on the ground, including the many NGOs from Haiti and across Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission, which appears to have suffered their own losses and the partners in the region and around the world. This must truly be an international effort."

United Nations officials say at least 16 UN personnel were killed, at least 56 were injured and about 150 – including the mission's chief diplomat - are unaccounted for in the wake of the collapse of the organization's five-story peacekeeping mission.

Seven who were seriously hurt were evacuated from the country.

The United Nations is providing $10 million from its emergency fund for relief efforts. Officials say an emergency response team should be in place by the end of the day to coordinate humanitarian aid.

The UN says it has about 3,000 troops on the ground in Port-au-Prince, securing the airport, the port and the main buildings.

The United States is sending disaster rescue teams, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. is offering civilian and military assistance.

The White House is also trying to reach out to U.S. personnel on the island to ensure they are safe. There are an estimated 40,000 U.S. residents residing in the region. No deaths have been officially reported.

More military help and rescue teams along with food, medicine and other supplies are coming from Venezuela and Mexico.

Britain, France, Canada and several other nations have already begun pledging support in the form of personnel, cash, and supplies.

Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security officials say the United States is currently halting the deportation of Haitians who are living in the country illegally as a result of the deadly earthquake.

Those who were to be deported to Haiti will remain in U.S. detention centers.