Please be warned of fraudulent individuals and groups capitalising on sympathy for quake victims.
Those listed here are reputable aid organisations raising money to help the earthquake victims. For each of them, their charitable commitment ( percentage of income used for charitable purposes) for the year 2007 was calculated by Forbes Magazine in its list of 200 largest charities in the US. The calculations were only done on US groups; for international organisations, the score represents the one given to their US office.
From the Forbes report ( Forbes.com, America's 200 Largest Charities by William P Barrett, 11.21.2007)
Charitable Commitment: This measures how much of total expense went directly to the charitable purpose (also known as program support) as opposed to management, certain overhead and fundraising. The average this year is 85%, down 1%...
... We again warn against mindlessly comparing ratios of different kinds of nonprofits, as each has a certain degree of uniqueness. But our data certainly can be helpful in the early stages of an evaluation of any nonprofit--on our list or not. Say you're interested in contributing to a smaller agency that helps the needy overseas. The ratios of several similar larger ones on our list can provide a sense of the norms for such enterprises.
If you are interested in donating, please do contact the respective organisations to ensure the appeals are still going on. This is especially if you would like to offer help in kind, as they would be able to advise better what would be needed and their logistical capabilities in bringing your donations to those you intend to reach.
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
The Red Cross is not listed on Forbes' List of 200 Largest Charities 2007.
In a release drafted by the organisation on May 19 2008
Appeal:How to Help:
Current appeal target: CHF 20,076,412 (USD 19,304,242 or EUR 12,431,215)
Earthquake impact: (as of 18 May 2008)
Source: Chinese emergency response office of the State Council of China
Death toll: 32,476 people
Injured: 220,109 people
Displaced: 4.8 million people
Rooms damaged: 15.7 million rooms*
Collapsed rooms: 312 million rooms*
* As several families often live in the same home in China, damage is assessed by the number
of rooms impacted by the earthquake.
Red Cross Red Crescent response:
• More than 35,000 local Red Cross staff and volunteers have been working
with rescue and medical teams to distribute tents, food, water, clothes and
medicines around the clock.
• Red Cross efforts will target the most affected, paying special attention to
special health and psycho-social needs of the most vulnerable groups such as
children, the elderly, pregnant mothers, the displaced and disabled, among
others.
• More than 87 local and regional Red Cross emergency relief and medical
teams have been deployed.
• A four-member team from the International Federation, composed of a team
leader, health delegate, disaster management officer and a media specialist
arrived in Chengdu on 15 May.
• The International Federation’s earthquake coordination centre has been set
up at Sichuan Red Cross branch headquarters in Chengdu.
• The International Federation will provided emergency support to the local Red
Cross’ relief operations in Mianyang prefecture, one of the most affected
areas.
1. Donate at your local International Red Cross/Red Crescent office. Find it.
2. Donate directly to the International Red Cross Society of China.
You may do a bank transfer to the
Account No: 0200001009014413252
Name: ICBC Beijing Municipal Branch Dong Si Nan Sub-Branch
Address: No.147 Dongsi South St. Beijing, China
Zip Code: 100010
Swift Code: ICBKCNBJBJM
Account No.:7112111482600000209
Name: China CITIC Bank
Beijing Jiuxianqiao Sub-Branch
Address: C&W Tower. No.14,
Jiuxianqiao Street,
Chaoyang District，
Beijing, China
Zip Code: 100016
Swift Code：CIBKCNBJ100
TEL:86-10-64319780
For more info:
Official site of the Red Cross Society of China
The IFC's Sichuan Earthquake disaster site
Oxfam
Oxfam America scores 79% in charitable commitment on Forbes' List of 200 Largest Charities 2007. It does not receive any percentage of its revenue from the government. 90 % of Oxfam Hong Kong's revenue comes from public donations.
Here's Oxfam's statement
Oxfam's response
We are responding to the earthquake through Oxfam Hong Kong which has allocated $1.5 million for emergency relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
Our teams are currently at work in four locations in Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, focusing on assisting survivors in remote rural areas.
The team in Sichuan reports a severe shortage of drinking water in Chengdu, the capital city. We are currently conducting assessments and securing emergency supplies, including from neighboring provinces.
Our team in Gansu reports that the cellular phone system is down in Wudu County. Another team is working in Wen County. Both areas were badly affected in the earthquake."We are targeting remote areas that are not being covered by the government or other relief efforts, as is Oxfam's normal practice in an emergency. We are communicating closely with government units in Sichuan and Gansu to make sure we do not duplicate their efforts, and to use our resources effectively."- John Sayer, Director General of Oxfam Hong KongWe anticipate carrying out a long-term rehabilitation program to provide support in livelihoods restoration and infrastructure recovery.
How to help:
1. Donate online to Oxfam Hong Kong
2. Donate online to Oxfam USA
Contact:
Oxfam Hong Kong
Chair: Kam-keung Tse; Director: John Sayer
17/F., China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2520 2525
Fax: +852 2527 6307
Email: info@oxfam.org.hk
World Vision
World Vision US scores 87 % in charitable commitment on Forbes' List of 200 Largest Charities 2007. It receives 29% of its revenue from government support.
Excerpts from World Vision's statement of their work on the ground in Sichuan, May 19, 2008.
As China enters three days of national mourning for the now 32,000 confirmed dead following the May 12 quake, World Vision continues to distribute aid and survey the needs of devastated communities in Sichuan Province.Our 12 local staff members in Qingchuan County, who began responding almost immediately after the disaster, are finding that temporary shelter remains the most urgent necessity for survivors in hard-hit areas. Tents and shelter materials, mainly plastic sheets, are in greatest need.
"In Mianzhu, a hard-hit region, survivors are camping out on streets, and basic needs like food, tents, and water are seriously lacking," said Mei Mei Leung, World Vision's senior relief officer for China.
In response, World Vision plans to bring in another 4,000 plastic sheets, 3,000 quilts, and 50 tents this week to assist affected communities. This is in addition to the 800 tents, 30,000 quilts, 464,100 kilograms of food, and 2,000 shelter tarpaulins we have already planned to provide to survivors. Distributions have already begun in Qingchuan County, where World Vision conducts a community development program.World Vision's relief team has worked around the clock to conduct post-quake assessment and relief work in several quake-stricken areas. Staff are reporting that many villagers have lost all of their possessions and are grieving over the deaths of their loved ones.
Leung and her team visited more than 1,000 survivors in Shifang County's Deyang City on May 16. They assessed the most urgent needs in the area and distributed child-friendly kits and disaster preparedness manuals to affected children.To address the unique needs of children orphaned or otherwise affected by the quake, World Vision plans to open three Child-Friendly Spaces in the coming days. Games and activities in a safe environment will help children regain a sense of normalcy after their difficult experiences.
Meanwhile, World Vision staff in Qingchuan County had begun a quilt and tent distribution on May 17 when warnings came of the potential flooding from a local river. The staff stopped the distribution and evacuated the area, but after the flood warning was called off by the authorities, World Vision was able to continue distributing quilts and tents to families in Liangshui and Qiaozhuang Townships in the county.
World Vision also remains concerned about children's physical needs, especially in remote areas where aid has just begun to reach.
World Vision plans to reach more than 123,000 survivors with relief and rehabilitation activities totaling about $2 million. Long-term rehabilitation activities will focus on shelter and school reconstruction.
How to Help:
Donate online to World Vision's operations in Sichuan
Contact:Hong Kong Head Office
Unit 809-811, 8/F, Tower 2, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza,
833 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon,
Hong Kong SAR, China
Tel: (852) 2394-5613
Fax: (852) 2394-1578
Beijing Office:
Room 507, Golden Land Building,
32 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District,
Beijing, China
Postal Code: 100016
Tel: (8610) 6467-2270
Fax: (8610) 6467-2321
AmeriCares
AmeriCares scores 99 % in charitable commitment on Forbes' List of 200 Largest Charities 2007. It is fully funded by private donations and receives no support from the US government.
From its website:
AmeriCares emergency response experts are in China meeting with local nongovernmental organizations to assess the health care needs and coordinate our emergency response with local and international charities. We are working with our long-standing partner, the China Primary Health Care Foundation, physicians at Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital and other health care organizations to deliver critical medicines and medical supplies.How to Help:
To maximize our relief efforts and avoid importation delays, AmeriCares is also exploring partnerships with other local non-governmental organizations and multinational pharmaceutical donors with offices in China.
Donate online via credit card to AmeriCare's Sichuan earthquake response fund.
Contact:
AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Ave.
Stamford, CT USA 06902
1-800-486-HELP (4357)
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps scored 88 % in charitable commitment on Forbes' List of 200 Largest Charities 2007.
From its official website:
Mercy Corps, through its local partners China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) and All China Youth Federation (ACYF), is mounting an emergency response for survivors. Together, we have procured critical supplies such as food, water, clothing and shelter supplies and delivered them to affected families. We have deployed experienced staff members from our Beijing and U.S. headquarters offices to help coordinate efforts.
Mercy Corps is also coordinating shipments of much-needed pharmaceuticals and other critical medical supplies to affected areas.
In addition, our team is coordinating plans for longer-term programming with our local partners. There are great needs for temporary schools, counseling and other activities for children in earthquake-shattered rural areas.
To serve these needs, we are focusing on helping children and youth recover through our Comfort For Kids program. We are translating "My Earthquake Story" — a variation on the "My Hurricane Story" workbook that was used in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina — into Mandarin Chinese and adapting it specifically for children in Sichuan Province. Senior-level psychologists, including the Chinese American Psychoanalytic Alliance (CAPA), are working with Mercy Corps on the adaptations, translations and training for local teachers and other caregivers. The workbook is appropriate for children of all ages, from toddlers through older youth. Thousands of copies will be distributed as part of the psychosocial program that we're planning to initiate in affected areas.
Two staff members are headed to China in the coming days to help begin and implement psychosocial activities. Through its Comfort for Kids methodology, Mercy Corps has worked with post-trauma children around the world in trying to help them regain some sense of normalcy.
Mercy Corps has been assisting families and vulnerable communities in China since 2001. One of our programs — Project GLOW — is centered in Sichuan Province, the epicenter of the earthquake. We have confirmed that our staff and partners in the area are safe.
How to Help:
2. Call toll-free in the US (888) 256-1900 to donate by phone.
Contact:
Mercy Corps
Dept. W
3015 SW 1st Ave.
Portland, OR 97201 USA
(800) 292-3355
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