Dear praying friend,
When the earthquake rocked Nepal this past weekend, we were anxious to reach our co-workers in the affected areas. In between aftershocks, the stories began to pour in – stories of miracles and sacrifice. Our co-workers, who themselves have suffered great loss in the disaster, are on the streets providing food, water, and other essentials to those who have lost everything.
One of our Nepal partners writes, “…people were crying for the help. I actually went to help the children of our co-worker who works as a cook in our orphanage. Her house had fallen down and her two sons and daughter were in danger. I went there to help and also took some relief items for many other people: tents, rice, noodles, cooking oils… The people in need were uncountable.”
When disasters hit, people often ask, “What can we do? How can we help?” A recent article from The Guardian sheds light on steps that will help and not hinder the response efforts:
- Leave on-the-ground assistance to aid organizations and skilled professionals – As much as we want to fly overseas, roll up our sleeves and pick up a shovel, an influx of international volunteers can create confusion and disorder and end up putting a strain on scarce resources. Nepal itself only has one international airport, which itself has been damaged by the earthquake. Right now, we want to support emergency workers who are already on the ground and trained to respond.
- Donate money, rather than secondhand items – Money can be immediately utilized to buy food, water, and other necessities. It is much more difficult to ship and distribute secondhand items overseas, particularly when a battered infrastructure complicates the process.
- Provide immediate aid in the short-term – Regardless of our beliefs about providing handouts, right now, people need food and water. To help Nepal weather this crisis, we have to help meet these immediate needs.
- In the long-term, rebuild sustainability – In the aftermath of a natural disaster, a country can take years to rebuild. After the media’s attention shifts elsewhere, donations often dry up. To really support a country, we must think of how we can equip a country to develop its own resources in the long-term, which will pave the way the way for a brighter future and help prevent future catastrophes.
As a ministry that is at work to develop families and communities as we free and equip women and girls, She Is Safe is committed long-term to restoration in Nepal. You can read about our work to prevent, rescue, and restore women and girls in Nepal here.
Right now, our co-workers are on the ground providing immediate assistance that will save lives and build relationships within the community, planting the seeds for new life in Nepal for years to come. Please consider supporting our work for people in this crisis by clicking the “Make a Donation” button below and making a donation to our Emergency Response Fund.
Praying for Nepal,
Michele Rickett
President & Founder