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As Nepal Earthquake Response Pours In, Relief Efforts Begin

Courtesy of the American Red Cross

As the death toll from Saturday's Nepal earthquake exceeds 4,000 people, the American Red Cross is urging those who want to help to donate money instead of items. Meanwhile, a group formed Sunday in Vermont is also trying to help.

In the aftermath of the strongest earthquake to strike Nepal and the Himalayan Region in more than 80 years, the American Red Cross is committing an initial $300,000 to assist the Nepal Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross/ Red Crescent in the response operation. Spokesman Larry Crist says it’s also providing remote mapping and information management support. He says the earthquake and its aftershocks are leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

“A number of key things to keep in mind is that at this stage of the response for such a disaster responders are really focused on lifesaving measures,” Crist says.

He says there is a massive international response. And about 100,000 Red Cross volunteers are on the ground in Nepal. Dozens of other charities have been established and more rescue workers are en route. Crist says agencies already on the ground are the ones to help. He says international humanitarian agencies need funding.

“There’s often immediate reaction when people hear about a disaster of this scope to say, okay, what can I send them, what clothing do I have that I can send, what supplies. Those things are all wonderful to think about in the abstract but, in reality, the cost of trying to transport and sort and handle those materials far outweighs the value of the materials,” says Crist. “What relief organizations really need is they need qualified volunteers, which most of them already have and have in place or will be sending. And then they need the money to support those volunteers to and provide the essential services to the affected population.”

Additionally, the Vermont Red Cross has been instrumental in assisting in the organization and operation of “Vermont for Nepal,” which is coordinating efforts to raise funds that will go to the International Federation of the Red Cross & Red Crescent to speed response efforts in Nepal.  

“It’s a group that was actually formed yesterday under the leadership of individuals who have lived and are from Nepal,” says Crist. “And they requested the American Red Cross and other community organizations to assist them in creating this fundraising entity which is called ‘Vermont for Nepal.’ ”

Laura Kunreuther is associate professor of anthropology at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson. She has conducted extensive research in Kathmandu, Nepal.

“There are a lot of people in the Hudson Valley who have been to Nepal, who love Nepal, who I am acquainted with, and that there’s an instinct I think to feel like you just want to get on a plane and go there,” says Kunreuther. “I think figuring out the best way to help is, at this point… Obviously people need, they need medical, they need water, they need medical supplies, they need medical expertise. And so what we’ve been doing is circulating vetted relief organizations on the ground as well as the well-known ones of Nepalis who are themselves organizing relief efforts.”

She was meeting with Bard students late Monday afternoon about coordinating relief efforts at the college.

Meanwhile, Oxfam America says it is working with its international affiliate to help victims and is accepting donations for relief efforts. The Boston-based group says Oxfam International is working in four open-air sites in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley to deliver clean water and build toilets.

The death toll is expected to rise as assessments are made in vulnerable mountain villages that have been inaccessible since the quake.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved contributed to this WAMC report.

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