On Saturday 25 April, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal, with its epicentre midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The official death toll is well above 6,000 and rising daily as relief agencies reach remote villages cut off by the quake. Thousands of people remain unaccounted for, and severe aftershocks have been hampering rescue efforts. Whilst the border areas of Tibet were also badly affected by the quake, official information about casualties is sketchy, and no international aid organisations are permitted to work in Tibet as far as we are aware.
This page gives some examples of organisations that are helping people affected in Nepal. The findings from the emergency response to other disasters, such as Haiti, strongly suggest that donating money is significantly more effective than sending goods. See “To help Nepal quake victims, send money, not stuff”
The following organisations have dedicated appeals and in many cases direct experience of working with Nepal’s poorest people, including its Tibetan population. Many of them are engaged in emergency relief but are also raising funds for the future; re-building, health and restoration of services such as education, working with grassroots partner organisations.
Tibet & Region-specific organisations
International Campaign for Tibet (directing donations to established organisations working in Nepal)
Tibet Fund (working with partners in Nepal, such as Snow Lion Foundation and The Himalayan Society for Youth and Women Empowerment)
Seva Foundation (Sight Clinics)
Tewa, supporting women’s projects
We Help Nepal – supporting locally-led, corruption-free Nepal. We Help Nepal works with Groups including: Gorkha Foundation, Chokgyur Lingpa Foundation, The Umbrella Foundation, Kids of Kathmandu and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity and Development,
Shedrub Development Fund (Monastery in Nepal)
Tsoknyi Rinpoche, see Emergency Message or to give – http://www.tsoknyinepalnuns.org/donate/
International Aid Agencies and International Organisations
NB some governments – for example Canada – are currently matching donations for Nepal, so it’s worth checking before deciding where to donate.
Avaaz – distributing donations to effective local organisations.
Facebook is also matching $2 million in donations
Other ways to help
Tweet @translatorswithoutborders if you speak Nepalese or Bhasa
(photo, Voice of America)
