The East-West Center community expresses its sympathy and deep concern over the loss of life and on-going crisis in Nepal resulting from the devastating earthquake. Our hearts go out to the family members of those who lost their lives and to the thousands who are still trying to locate family and friends, who lost property, or who have had to leave their homes. We know that rebuilding, psychologically and physically, will require enormous leadership, stamina, and resources, and we hope to be able to help.

We encourage all EWC alumni to use this blog site and visit the EWCA Facebook page to connect with the wider EWCA community. We also invite you to share your images, stories or reflections regarding the experience on the EWCA Facebook page and EWCA blog as a central communication point for EWC alumni affected by the earthquake. Please share any news about EWC alumni in the region who may have been affected and any relief activities that the EWCA chapter or individual alumni may be undertaking so that we can share that information with the Center community.

We hope that the international community can effectively help local citizens and authorities in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. Click here for a list of organizations that are dedicated to the relief effort in Nepal.

Operation USA
Founded by EWC Alumnus Gary Larsen (ISI 65-67) who remains actively engaged with the organization, Operation USA will deliver much needed relief supplies to Nepal, including shipments of medical equipment and supplies that are already being prepared in their warehouse. Your donation will allow OpUSA to make a long term commitment to the people of Nepal, and to have a lasting impact on communities that so desperately need our help.

The following organizations are suggested in the New York Times:

International Medical Corps
The organization’s emergency response team is on the ground in Nepal, trying to provide critically needed medicines and supplies, including hygiene kits and water purification tablets, to survivors. Teams of doctors, nurses and logisticians will try to operate mobile medical units in the hardest-hit areas.

Handicap International
Handicap International has been working in Nepal since 2000 and has 47 volunteers on the ground distributing wheelchairs and other mobility aids, and providing help with rehabilitation and logistics.

Unicef
The United Nations Children Fund is providing supplies like water purification tablets, hygiene kits, tarps and nutrition supplements for children and families affected by the earthquake, and working with the government and other partners to meet children’s immediate needs.

PayPal
PayPal has set up a disaster relief campaign with international aid organizations working directly and through local partners to provide relief. PayPal said it would cover all costs associated with donations it received through the site, and also refund transaction fees to qualified nonprofits participating in the relief and recovery efforts.

Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps has been in Nepal since 2006 and has more than 90 volunteers on the ground trying to distribute water, shelter kits, mosquito netting, tarps, cooking utensils, hygiene materials and other household provisions.

Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services and its partner organizations have begun procuring emergency relief materials, like shelter kits and sanitation and hygiene materials.

Habitat for Humanity International
The group says its disaster response teams are coordinating efforts with local government agencies and disaster relief partners, and will be assembling emergency shelter kits.

Global Giving
Money donated to support relief operations in Nepal will go toward helping first responders meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter, the organization said. “Once initial relief work is complete, this fund will transition to support longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted local organizations,” it said.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
The New York-based nonprofit is providing medical assistance through aid workers traveling from India to Nepal.

Oxfam
Oxfam is an international coalition of charities dedicated to fighting poverty. Aid workers from the group are on the ground, preparing to hand out food and water.

World Vision
“We are initiating a response to meet basic, urgent needs with temporary shelter, food, water, emergency health interventions and other vital aid,” the group said.

Red Cross
Volunteers from the Nepal arm of the Red Cross are helping in the search for survivors.

United Nations World Food Program
The United Nations agency is providing food and other aid to survivors.

Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian organization providing food, water, shelter, medicine and other assistance to earthquake survivors.

CARE
CARE is asking for donations for critical relief. The group said its humanitarian workers were on the ground assessing the situation in Nepal and determining the most immediate needs.

Save the Children
Donations to Save the Children, an organization with extensive reach in Nepal, will go toward efforts to provide protection for children and relief to their families.

Lutheran World Relief
The charity, which normally provides technical help to impoverished farmers, said it was assessing the situation in Nepal, but its relief efforts would probably include providing cash transfer programs, water filtration units, quilts and personal hygiene kits.

Jewish Federations of North America
The coalition of Jewish federations and communities focuses on rebuilding and improving infrastructure after natural and man-made disasters. In Nepal, the groups are working to determine what survivors’ immediate needs are, and plan to send emergency supplies that will arrive by Tuesday.

SOS Children’s Villages
The organization has been in Nepal since the 1970s and has three “villages” around Katmandu. It has set up an emergency fund to create safe spaces for children and help reunite children separated from their families.

Doctors Without Borders
The organization is sending eight teams of health care providers, including eight surgeons, to assist earthquake victims and distribute supplies.

MAP International
MAP International, a global Christian health organization, will distribute what it calls an “interagency emergency health kit” that will treat 10,000 people for 90 days, and supply a container shipment of medicines and supplies.

International Relief Teams
International Relief Teams has already ordered a shipment of emergency medicines to be airlifted to Nepal, and is asking for donations to send more.

American Jewish World Service
The organization, which is dedicated to fighting for human rights and against poverty, is raising money to distribute to aid organizations in the hardest-hit areas of Nepal.

The Salvation Army
The Christian charity’s response includes basic necessities like food, water and shelter.