Nepal / Everest Earthquake
On April 25, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Nepal with the epicentre being roughly 50 miles north of Kathmandu. Crumbling buildings have injured and killed many with the reported death toll climbing to 2,150 people so far as reported by the Associated Press. At least 4,700 were injured and tens of thousands more have been left homeless.
The earthquake also caused destruction at Everest Base Camp where several avalanches have killed 17 people, but this count is also expected to rise. A large hanging glacier on the northern shoulder of 23,494-foot Pumori was responsible for most of the death and destruction.
Nepal is prone to earthquakes because it is at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Himalayas were created when the plates collided millions of years ago, and the still-moving Indian plate pushes the mountains a few millimetres higher every year.
So how can you help?
Dontate to one of the following seven nonprofits that say they will provide relief in Nepal:
AmeriCares
AmeriCares is an emergency response and global health organization. They have sent an emergency response team from their offices in Mumbai to Nepal and are "preparing shipments of medical aid and relief supplies for survivors."
CARE
CARE describes itself as a humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. It has a long-established presence in Nepal, and told USA Today that it was “coordinating with other agencies to assist up to 75,000 people.”
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church in the United States. It maintains field offices in Nepal and has started its relief effort by “procuring emergency relief materials such as tarpaulins/shelter kits and water, sanitation and hygiene material."
Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a nonprofit that specializes in providing international medical assistance. It is in the process of coordinating with local partners in Nepal and will focus its relief efforts on the “valley around Kathmandu, where medical facilities are overflowing with patients seeking care.”
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving is a charity fundraising website that has set up a fund specifically for Nepal relief efforts. The money collected will go to “help first responders meet survivors' immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products, and shelter. Once initial relief work is complete, this fund will transition to support longer-term recovery efforts" run by vetted local organizations, according to a post on the GlobalGiving site.
Save the Children
Save the Children is an international NGO dedicated to promoting children’s rights and providing relief and support to children in developing countries. It has set up a Nepal fund to “protect vulnerable children and provide desperately needed relief to families.” Ten percent of the funds collected will go to prepare for the next disaster.
Seva Foundation
The Seva Foundation is a US-based nonprofit known for its work treating blindness. It has a long-running presence in Nepal and has set up an emergency relief fund.
The following pictures are from The Telegraph and AFP's Roberto Schmidt:
