Photo by United Nations Development Program.A third earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley and the outlying region on May 16. This, after on April 25’s massive quake, which has taken 8,200 lives, and a second earthquake that added to the death toll and the region’s ongoing problems there on May 12th. The need for help is of the utmost. Organizations and groups around the world have been mobilizing to pitch in. Here are some of them, with links.
Charitable relief funds
AmeriCares has announced that its emergency response team “is en route to Nepal and we are prepared to help any way that we can,” noting that “we leverage every dollar donated into twenty dollars of aid.”
Bodhivastu is “a non-profit org led by Lama Rangbar, a student of HH Chatral Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. We already have a ground crew mobilzed and providing relief, focusing on the remote ares of Sankhu and Yomo, since Lama lived in Nepal for 20 years and still has staff there and we work through the Himalayan Light Foundation locally in Nepal. Lama has established his own center in Sankhu as an emergency relief shelter for the upper villagers. We are providing tents, sending food and medical supplies. To donate, please go to our website, call 845.226.6663 or email [email protected]. Thank you for any help you can provide!”
Direct Relief writes of its efforts that the organization “will be coordinating with the following local and emergency response partners in the hours and days ahead,” and “has delivered over $1,000,000 worth of medicines and supplies to its charitable healthcare provider partners in Nepal.”
Facebook announced on April 27th it “will match your donation up to $2 million to contribute to local relief organizations. 100% of your donation will go to International Medical Corps and their work in response to the Nepal earthquake.”
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) has created a Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, “to provide for the immediate and long-term needs of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery and other local FPMT centers resulting from the devastation caused by the Nepal earthquake. […] In addition, the fund will be used to offer immediate relief and support to other areas in the Himalayan region such as the village of Thame (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthplace) where there has been an incredible amount of destruction. If sufficient funds are raised, grants may also be provided to other carefully vetted organizations providing earthquake relief efforts.”
GlobalGiving.org says donations “will support earthquake recovery and relief efforts in Nepal. Initially, the fund will 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 local, vetted local organizations.”
Run by Venerable Metteyya, the spiritual director of Canadian Engaged Buddhism Association (CEBA), GlobalKaruna.org is collecting funds for its own Nepal Earthquake Relief fund, reporting that it has “a large network in Nepal; we have been working distributing aid and connecting aid agencies with communities in need…. Volunteers and board members pay for their own travel. 100% of funds raised will go towards the Earthquake Relief.”
Via Grand Circle Foundation: “Grand Circle Foundation has pledged to match up to $50,000 of your donations when you give by Monday, May 4. We’ve chosen to contribute to the American Red Cross—a leading humanitarian organization with the worldwide clout and experience to truly make a difference.”
The Himalayan Children’s Fund, which “provides support for Thrangu Rinpoche’s many compassionate activities such as schools, monasteries and clinics,” is also helping with earthquake relief and rebuilding efforts, noting that “food, water and basic supplies are needed now and over time we will need to support the repair and rebuilding that is needed. Donations can be made designated or undesignated. An undesignated gift will be distributed equally between the monasteries, abbey, schools and clinics.” See also the Namo Buddha Foundation, which is a “Canadian registered charitable organization founded by Thrangu Rinpoche to provide food, clothing, medical care and education to the poor children of the Himalayan region, and support nunneries, monasteries, schools, free clinics, retreat centres and monastic colleges in Nepal, India and Tibet.”
The Himalayan Medical Foundation‘s network of clinics offers free medical care to the monastic and lay communities in the Kathmandu valley and is responding to the earthquake relief efforts by creating emergency health camps. Click here to donate to the HMF’s efforts.
Karuna Shechen, founded by Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard in 2000, provides health care, education, and social services for the under-served people of India, Nepal, and Tibet. Click here to donate to Karanua Shechen’s earthquake-relief efforts.
The Marpa Foundation, established in 1994 under the spiritual direction of Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, writes: “everyone in the Tek Chok Ling community is safe, but its buildings sustained damage. We are still assessing the extent of the damage but we know that the nunnery and its guesthouse will need to be repaired, the Yolmo retreat facility needs to be rebuilt, and there will be many other earthquake-related expenses. To help Tek Chok Ling and its community repair, rebuild, and rejuvenate, please consider donating to this special fund.
Oxfam International: “We are preparing to supply clean water and hygiene equipment to thousands of people in Nepal following a devastating earthquake. Your help now will help us to save lives.”
Save The Children’s Nepal Earthquake Children’s Relief Fund will help the organization “protect vulnerable children and provide desperately needed relief to families. Ten percent of your contribution will be used to help us prepare for the next emergency.”
Seva has created a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, noting that “that 100% of every gift will go to support the victims of this devastating earthquake.”
Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche has also announced the creation of a relief fund, writing, “The immediate concern is of course first aid relief, however, after an earthquake there are not only the immediate needs of those injured, there are also concerns of food, water, shelter and months of re-construction. […] Any help at all will greatly benefit the cause. Donations can be made here via PayPal.”
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche on Monday wrote to followers, asking them to consider making a donation to Shedrub Development Fund, toward “rescue efforts, rebuilding homes, and assisting those in need. This is our recommended fund for all donations to help repair the monastery and nunnery and provide wider assistance in Nepal. We will take full responsibility for ensuring that the funds donated reach those in greatest need.”
The Tibet Fund “has established an Emergency Earthquake Relief Fund and is working with credible and reliable partners in Nepal, such as the Snow Lion Foundation and The Himalayan Society for Youth and Women Empowerment (HSYWE) to ensure that resources reach those most affected by the quake. These organizations are bringing urgently needed supplies and assistance to survivors and coordinating long-term efforts to rebuild communities. Even a small contribution will make a huge difference in the lives of those who have been tragically affected by the natural disaster.”
Unicef: “Children in Nepal need your help. Please donate what you can today.” In Canada, any donations to Unicef will be matched by the Canadian government and corporate sponsors, tripling the impact of every contribution.
Upaya Zen Center has created a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund and “will allocate it to a NGO in the area that we have relationships with and whose good work we can verify. […] We will choose organizations led by individuals with whom we have ongoing and productive relationships. We will make periodic reports back to all who make a donation.”
The Karmapa Service Society is inviting donations at their office in Elmhurst, NY (40-08 76th Street, Elmhurst, NY, 11373, phone: 718-747-4507 / 646-671-0041). All donations will be directed to the organization’s branch in Nepal, which is directly involved in rescue operations.
People finding / Mapping
Google has now launched a 2015 Nepal Earthquake Person Finder — a portal for those with information about people who may have been affected by the quake, and those looking for such people.
Nepal Earthquake Mapping: “Join a global movement of volunteers helping to Map Nepal for use in rescue work on the ground.”
Notes for #NepalQuake Mapping Session(s) @RyersonU Geography: “An impromptu collection of documents to support an initial meeting of Ryerson students and faculty in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies with getting started with OpenStreetMap (OSM) improvements for Nepal. As part of the international OSM community’s response, contributions may help rescuers and first-responders to locate victims of the devastating earthquake.” Includes links to “Guides on how to get started with mapping for Nepal,” and more.
See also:
Nepal: Buddhist monasteries, figures check in on social media — including updates and comments from the Karmapa, the Dalai Lama, and many others
