What do you think is our responsability towards ending suffering?

I turned on the news today and I simply can't deal with what happens around the world. I feel powerless and selfish and I wonder what is our responsibility to the world? Should be strive to stay informed even if there is not much we could do? It is sometimes easy to have a narrow view and avoid the pain...but I feel that by choosing to focus on my "local" circumstances is unfair to those who do not have a choice if to deal or not with the tragedies that surround them. Should we strive to end suffering or do you take it as a necessary part of life?