Yushu earthquake: Pray. Offer practical help.

Yushu, in Kham, Tibet was devastated by an earthquake on the morning of April 14th with massive loss of life. Yushu is in Qinghai Province, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

What can we do to help?

Pray for all those who have lost their lives or are injured, and their loved ones.

Supporting the relief effort through contributing to two reputable charities which already have a local presence. They can give assistance quickly, which is crucial for the people of Yushu. They would welcome any donation, large or small.

The Bridge Fund has been working in Yushu since 1998 to support education, health care, integrated community development, local NGO development, cultural heritage preservation and environmental conservation.

The Fund is sending donations to a local group of NGOs that have organized a committee to carry out relief efforts. They are buying much needed supplies (medical, tents, blankets shovels, food and water) and trucking them to Yushu. Local NGOs, volunteer and groups are tirelessly digging trapped people out of the rubble and providing food, shelter and care. It is critical that they receive support during the next 7-10 days.

DONATE ONLINE: www.Rockpa.org
For technical assistance with your donation, please contact Gage Weekes at gweekes@rockpa.org or by phone at +1 212 812 4316

DONATE BY CHECK, send your donation to:
The Bridge Fund
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers
6 West 48th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10036

TIBET FOUNDATION (UK): Tibet Foundation is a UK registered charity that has worked in the earthquake affected area for the past 18 years undertaking a variety of aid projects benefiting the local population. It has also undertaken emergency relief work during the Snow Disaster in Sershul in Sichuan province and Yushu in Qinghai province in the winter of 1995; for the Tsunami victims in south India in 2005; and most recently during the Sichuan Earthquake in China in 2008 and the Bihar Flood disaster in India in the same year.

TO DONATE ONLINE: Yushu Earthquake Relief Fund (A special emergency fund established for Yushu).

TO DONATE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSFER:
Tibet Foundation.
Account Name: Tibet Foundation
Account No: 00319945
Sort Code: 30-97-81
BIC: LOYDGB21034
IBAN: GB71 LOYD 3097 8100319945

Bank Name: Lloyds TSB PLC
Address: Southampton row Branch
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc
PO Box 1000, BX1 1LT

TO DONATE BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER:
Please make your check payable to Tibet Foundation (Yushu Earthquake) and send it to:
Tibet Foundation, 2 St. James’s Market, London, SW1Y 4SB, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 207 930 6001 Email: att@tibet-foundation.org

Please be sure to note that your donation is for the relief effort in Yushu. All donations are tax deductible and 100% of funds will go to relief efforts.

Some Facts
Yushu borders the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Sichuan and Qinghai Pronvices, or the regions of Kham and Amdo as they are known to the Tibetans. The population is 97% Tibetan and it’s one of the poorest and most remote regions in the country.

More than 2,000 people have been killed. Hundreds of people are still missing and more than 12,000 people are reported injured, many very seriously. Almost all the buildings have either been destroyed or severely damaged, making the whole town uninhabitable. The entire population of some 100,000 people are now living in the open air without adequate shelter. At an elevation of 4,000m, they face dangerously freezing temperatures. There is also a shortage of food, water and basic supplies, and the altitude and the remoteness also make relief and rescue efforts more difficult.

There is an urgent need to help. The next 7-10 days will be critical for the survivors. Donations also help in the future rebuilding of Yushu.