Nepal has just been hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Saturday, killing over 1,800 people and counting. Recovery and rescue efforts are now underway, while numerous non-Government organizations, or NGOs, as well as charities, have sent teams for medical assistance and essential aid.
Bamdev Gautman, the country’s prime minister, has already declared a state of emergency for Nepal and had also appealed to other nations for humanitarian assistance, according to The Guardian.
Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, have already stated that the Government has already been in contact with Nepal and that the British Embassy will be helping the Nepalese authorities in their time of need.
Getting through the Nepal Red Cross Society is one direct way to help those who have been victimized by the devastating earthquake. CNN has pointed out that the organization’s official website’s connectivity has a tendency to go on and off, which could be a reason why some donors could not easily and immediately get through, in addition to website traffic.
Global Giving has come up with an easier and relatively more tech-savvy method for donations. The organization has made a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund for assisting both aid groups from other nations, as well as local Nepalese non-profit organizations. Donors can easily text GIVE NEPAL to 80088 to make a donation of $10 per message.
AmeriCares has also sent its official response team to the area in Nepal that was believed to have been hit worst by the disaster. At present, relief workers are preparing loads and loads of medical aid and relief goods for those who have been fortunate to survive the earthquake. The organization has set up a disaster relief fund that potential donors can use for making their donations.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, or JDC, has also started collecting funds for relief efforts. Their assistance is reportedly focused on providing medical aid as well as relief supplies to the survivors.
Meanwhile, CARE, has already entered the scene of the disaster and is preparing to provide the victims of the quake with temporary shelter, purified water, ready-to-eat meals, as well as latrine construction.
Catholic Relief Serves is also accepting donations in order to help deliver relief supplies to the areas in India and Nepal that have been affected by the quake. Their target is to provide supplies for hygiene, water, sanitation, as well as shelter kits.
“The situation is quite bad,” said the organization’s New Delhi representative, Tony Castleman, as indicated in a Twitter post. “The cold weather is not going to help. It is going to be tough to sleep in the open.”