I know things are tough for everyone. But if you want to help and can help, below are some organizations that have sent out appeals for contribution. I've put together the data here for information purposes only and not as endorsement. If you need help making up your mind where to send your donation, you might check out Charity Navigator, the largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities in the US since 2001. It assesses the financial health of over 5,000 of America's best-known charities. Check out what the ratings mean here.
INDONESIA: EARTHQUAKE
From Reuters AlertNet: "September 30 - A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Indonesian city of Padang on Sept. 30, trapping thousands under debris. The quake struck the bustling port city of 900,000 people, toppling hundreds of buildings. By Oct. 2, the United Nations said more than 1,000 people had been killed in and around Padang. Aid to thousands of displaced survivors started trickling in, but rescue operations have been hampered by power blackouts and a lack of heavy equipment to shift fallen masonry. " The United States Government has provided disaster assistance here and here to support emergency relief work in Indonesia. ReliefWeb also has updates on post-disaster development in Indonesia here.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies The IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The Federation spends 93.5% of the donations on direct programme costs. The remaining 6.5% is used to cover administrative and other miscellaneous costs. Click here for online donations (use drop down arrow to specify “Indonesia: Sumatra Earthquake” or click here for bank transfer (insert name of country/programme you wish to support, e.g. “Indonesia: Sumatra Earthquake”).
Mercy Corps: Asia Pacific Disaster Response (Samoa and Indonesia) Over the last five years, has allocated more than 89% of resources directly to programs. America’s premier charity evaluator rates Mercy Corps a four-star charity. Click here to learn more. Mercy Corps International is a recent recipient of a $300,000 emergency grant through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the US initial $3.3 million commitment to the Padang Earthquake Response Effort. Check out Charity Navigator’s interactive map to locate the 29 4-star charities working in Indonesia here.
AMERICAN SAMOA: PACIFIC TSUNAMI
From Reuters AlertNet: "Tsunami waves smashed into the Pacific island nations of American and Western Samoa on Sept. 29, destroying in minutes a paradise of palm trees, resorts and pristine beaches. On Sept. 30, the death toll stood at 146 in Samoa, but officials said it was rising, with hundreds missing. Some 20 villages were destroyed in Samoa and scores flattened in nearby American Samoa. U.S. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in American Samoa, where more than 20 people have been killed, and ordered federal aid to help the recovery."
I have included links to FEMA below:
American Red Cross-Disaster Relief Fund
American Red Cross: International Response Fund
FEMA: American Samoa Earthquake, Tsunami, and Flooding
FEMA: Disaster Reserve Workforce Givealittle Reposted from givealittle; also check out givealittle on Facebook here.
Breaking news reports out of Samoa confirms many deaths and widespread devastation resulting from a tsunami after a massive 8.3 magnitude earthquake. Wondering what you can do to help? Be an online relief volunteer for the New Zealand Red Cross.
As an online volunteer you can assist by:
- Put the NZ Red Cross Tsunami Relief cause widget on your website or blog & encourage your networks to do the same. Pick up the official Givealittle widget here
- Use the ShareThis tool on the NZ Red Cross Samoa Tsunami Relief page to push the message out
- Link to this blog in your tweets and on your Facebook status
- Get really involved and set up your own fundraising page by clicking FUNDRAISE here (encourage your company, colleagues, staff and networks to get behind your page) – all funds you raise will go automatically to the New Zealand Red Cross
Most of us probably don’t have the skills or experience to assist in on the ground in an emergency like this – but it is great to know there are ways we can volunteer our time & energy online to support those that can help like the Red Cross.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
ADRA Australia is part of the global ADRA network, and is the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Donations to ADRA Australia’s Pacific Disaster Appeal will be used to support the immediate disaster relief activities in the area. If the Pacific Disaster Appeal raises more funds than are immediately needed, donations will be allocated to ADRA Australia’s ongoing emergency management activities in the region. ADRA Australia uses 10% or less of donations to fund its project management support services (see ADRA USA 4-star Charity Navigator ratings here). Donate here; Hotline (1800 242 372); ADRA New Zealand donate here; Hotline (0800 4 999 111).
Oxfam New Zealand: Samoa Tsunami Appeal
Oxfam New Zealand works in the Pacific, Asia and Africa, working with communities to tackle the root causes of poverty. It spends 6% of its funds on programme management, 3 on essential administration (no data available from Charity Navigator).
Typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines on Sept. 26, with the resulting floods affecting tens of thousands of people and forcing the Philippines to appeal for international aid. Documents posted in ReliefWeb from USAID/OFDA indicates that the floods have killed nearly 290 people and affected more than 3.1 million others as of October 2, including more than 419,221 evacuees residing in 508 evacuation shelters. In addition, NDCC reported that flood waters have destroyed or damaged more than 10,200 houses, as well as roads, bridges, schools, and agricultural assets, as of October 2. ReliefWeb which is administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also posted regular updates of the post-disaster development here. US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney has been helping out in relief supplies distribution in the capital city. USAID/OFDA also has an update on US disaster assistance in the country here.
Google and volunteers have put together an extensive page listing resources on how to help the victims in the Philippines.
Google Page: Help for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines
http://www.google.com/landing/typhoon-ondoy.html
This page includes a Google map also put together by volunteers indicating road conditions, donation centers, situation maps and missing persons in the affected area {If you are familiar with Google Maps and would like to help the group's volunteer efforts, email typhoonondoy@googlegroups.com}.
The help page includes news and updates (including local media websites), disaster emergency contacts (including rescue operations, civil society media, rubber boat and 4x4 truck requests), donations (online, credit card/paypal donations and SMS/text donations), list of US-based drop-off points for in-kind donations by state, and list of drop-off points for in-kind donations in the Philippines.
American Red Cross: International Response Fund (See 3-star Charity Navigator ratings here)
Global Giving: Philippines Flood Disaster Recovery Fund
(See 4-star Charity Navigator ratings here).
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Click here for online donations (use drop down arrow to specify “Philippines: Typhoon Ketsana” or click here for bank transfer (insert name of country/programme you wish to support, e.g. “Philippines: Typhoon Ketsana”)
Check out Charity Navigator’s interactive map to locate the 19 4-star charities working in the Philippines here.
The storm that caused extensive flooding in the Philippines moved on to Vietnam, slamming into the central part of the country on Sept. 29. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) a preliminary emergency appeal for Vietnam seeks 4.9 million Swiss francs (USD 4.75 million/Euro 3.25 million) to provide food and non-food items for distribution, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, shelter for displaced populations and capacity building for the Viet Nam Red Cross and its volunteers. An estimated 3 million people have been affected by Typhoon Ketsana and related flooding in the country. The US Government has provided disaster assistance here to support emergency relief work in the country.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Click here for online donations (use drop down arrow to specify “Vietnam: Typhoon Ketsana” or click here for bank transfer (insert name of country/programme you wish to support, e.g. “Vietnam: Typhoon Ketsana”)
AmeriCares: Asia and South Pacific Disasters AmeriCares is a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs – and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs – for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. More than 98% of total expenses directly support programs and relief for people in need, and less than 2% represent administrative costs. (See 4-star Charity Navigator ratings here).
Check out Charity Navigator’s interactive map to locate the 17 4-star charities working in Vietnam here.
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