Georgetown Stands with Nepal, Foreign Aid Falls Short

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA  -  ”Georgetown Stands with Nepal” is a campaign working to fundraise for ongoing relief efforts in Nepal and put stories from the ground into media headlines. Their mobilization comes after foreign aid pledges failed to meet the adequate amount of funds needed for earthquake relief. This campaign is part of a larger effort called “Students Stand With Nepal” to mobilize the national community to support relief efforts in Nepal.

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal near the capital of Kathmandu. It has caused extensive damage - broken houses, roads, electricity & water lines - and the estimated death toll has surpassed 3000. Aftershocks from the earthquake are still causing damage and people are sleeping outside with whatever few belongings they could grab. Local recovery efforts are underway to find survivors, and aftershocks continue to threaten destruction of infrastructure.

Currently the US has pledged $10 Million, Australia and the UK have only pledged $5 Million (Source)- yet estimated damages to Nepal are between $100 million and $10 billion (Source). Before the earthquake hit, Nepal was already one of the poorest countries in the world with a per capita income of just $62.50 a month according to the World Bank. "We need support from the various international agencies which are more knowledgeable and equipped to handle the kind of emergency we face now," said Nepal Information Minister Minendra Rijal.

Georgetown Stands with Nepal is fundraising directly for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund. All donations to this fund will support earthquake recovery and relief efforts in Nepal. Initially, the fund will help first responders meet survivors' immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products, and shelter. Once initial relief work is complete, this fund will transition to support longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted organizations. The amount of money raised by Students Stand with Nepal can be seen in real-time here and they have also provided resources for anyone willing to join fundraising efforts.

For more information on Students Stand with Nepal and how to get involved, click here. You can also join their conversation on Twitter and Facebook by using the hashtag #StudentsStandwithNepal

This content is a press release from the Georgetown Stands with Nepal relief community. Contact: ks1220@georgetown.edu, +1 702 883 5882, Georgetown Stands With Nepal.