On Haiti and emotional apathy

"But though natural likings should normally be encouraged, it would be quite wrong to think that the way to become charitable is to sit trying to manufacture affectionate feelings....The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.
-C.S. Lewis
Mere Christianity

I think this works for the question of how to care about distant tragedies. Maybe it helps you to alter the quote thusly:

"But though natural [compassion] should normally be encouraged, it would be quite wrong to think that the way to become charitable is to sit trying to manufacture [compassionate] feelings....The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you ["care" about Haiti]; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you [cared about something], you will presently come to [care about it]."

It doesn't matter whether the present suffering of Haiti's people has had a great emotional impact on you or not. That's not something you need to exert yourself trying to control. But if you think it's worth caring about, act in accordance.

Incidentally:
How you can help with Haiti earthquake relief efforts via PayPal & eBay

And even:
Click to donate to relief efforts in Haiti at no cost to yourself