Mindful Giving: Realistic Implications of Well-Intentioned Contributions to Nepal
Post by Gina Gabelia
Natural disasters elicit good will and compassion the world, but in such environments, interventions need to be applied strategically and appropriately. Many kind-hearted people ask where and how they can best help, offering to donate money, goods, or even to travel to the affected place to serve. My response to these generous offers is: “Here is a list of reputable INGOs and multilaterals, with funds dedicated to Nepal earthquake relief efforts, on the ground with the expertise, staff, and resources to handle natural disasters in Nepal through all stages from relief to assessments to recovery (Please see below). If you feel “it's a waste to give money to charities as the money goes to bureaucracy,” here is a list of local, grassroots (i.e. pretty much unpaid) organizations doing amazing, accountable relief and recovery work. (Please see below).
Alternatively, one of the most important steps you can make toward sustainable recovery is to donate directly to the Government of Nepal via the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. This empowers the government to apply relief efforts more quickly and efficiently. The Nepali people trust the government to spend the annual budget of US $5,839,130,000 or 600 billion Nepalese rupees, of which two-thirds was collected from tax and revenues, on public services to improve the health, education, safety, security, economy, and political stability of the nation. Many criticize the Nepali government’s relief efforts, but it is important to acknowledge that government employees in the form of police, military, public hospital employees and public service employees have been at the forefront of recovery efforts and played a critical role in some of the most remote, hard hit areas The PM’s Disaster Relief Fund is specifically designed to deliver relief during emergencies such as this, and desperately needs additional funds to continue to lead international teams and contributions committed to earthquake relief efforts. It is also critical to consider the implications of various external entities with different priorities overtaking relief efforts, as happened in Haiti, which further complicated an already tenuous recovery effort that is still delicate more than four years later.
Please donate a sum you feel reflects your commitment to relief and recovery efforts, to an organization of your choice. Please also consider donating smaller sums multiple times as the need for aid/donor money will not be resolved within two weeks, or even two months.
In response to the intention to travel directly to Nepal to help, ask yourself honestly, are you useful on the ground in an emergency? Are you an emergency first responder/emergency medical technician? Are you a medical professional? Are you a structural engineer? Are you a geologist and/or seismologist? Are you an expert in logistics management in Global South crisis environments? Can you navigate complicated bureaucracies and red tape under pressure? Can you assess the functionality of WASH systems (do you know what WASH systems are?) and then apply immediate and long term solutions to prevent disease outbreaks? Are you an emergency mental health expert? Are you familiar with Nepal's pre-earthquake social, political, economic, and physical landscapes and associated challenges? Are you prepared to handle those issues and associated risks in crisis mode? Are you personally in good health? The system is so fragile post two major quakes and hundreds of aftershocks that it needs professionals and experts on the ground who can provide emergency relief, assess damages, and direct recovery and reconstruction efforts. There isn't time to save all the earthquake victims, much less accommodate, or even guarantee the safety of inexperienced, well-intentioned people.
From a numbers perspective, it would cost roughly US $2,000 for a round-trip ticket to Nepal from the United States. For that princely sum, you could pay for oral rehydration tablets for 5,040 children with diarrhea, many epidemiologists fear a cholera epidemic is imminent in this environment, or provide primary health care to 1,200 children for one year. (Thanks to Kidasha for providing the breakdown of donations and operational costs!)
The desire to collect emergency goods to send to resource limited Nepal is commendable. However, if you are not in Nepal or India and/or do not have direct access to individuals and organizations shipping supplies to hard hit areas, please consider a few logistics: How will you send the goods? Who will cover shipping costs – do you really want to spend donations on expensive international freight that could take weeks to arrive? How will you get these items through customs – both your country's and Nepal's? How will you get the supplies from the airport/border crossing to affected areas? How do you know which areas have received aid, and which are still waiting? How do you know you are sending what is needed and not duplicate, or unnecessary supplies or services? Instead, please direct your generosity to one of the many reputable organizations listed below, which have the infrastructure and resources to assess need and deliver supplies, and need additional emergency funds to do what they need to do.
One of the most beautiful things to come out of disasters are humanity and decency, but keep in mind if you are not a medical professional or emergency aid worker, good intentions are best manifested by donating to reputable organizations with the resources and infrastructure to handle relief work.
Vetted INGOs with separate funds dedicated to Nepal Earthquake Relief Efforts:
Grassroots Organizations:
The Government of Nepal:
Link to OneStopPortal Resources:
