Ecuador and Japan Earthquake Relief

Ecuador and Japan Earthquake Relief

On Saturday, April 16th, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the coast of Ecuador; meanwhile, between Thursday and Sunday, Japan’s Kyushu region was struck by three deadly earthquakes. More than 200 people have died in Ecuador, and the death toll from the three quakes in Japan has passed 40. In both countries, thousands of people have been displaced, and homes and businesses have been destroyed. Assessments are still being conducted to assess the extent of the damage, but government efforts in both countries and responses from the international community are quickly coming together to assist survivors and support the emergency response.

What can we do?

In addition to the pledges for funding and support by local communities and international government agencies, many non-profit organizations are soliciting donations for relief efforts in Ecuador and Japan. Below are our top recommendations:

unicef-logo

U.S. Fund for UNICEF (4*)

Mission: UNICEF works for children in more than 190 countries and territories. Every child, no matter where they live, deserves a safe and healthy childhood. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF raises funds for UNICEF’s work on child survival, child development, child protection and emergencies.

What your donation will do: Nearly 1 million children require humanitarian assistance, and UNICEF is on the ground working to provide critical aid to children and families.

GGlobalGiving (4*)

Mission: Founded in 2003, GlobalGiving works to build an efficient, open, thriving marketplace that connects people who have community and world-changing ideas with people who can support them. Our vision is to unleash the potential of people around the world to make positive change happen.

What your donation will do: All donations to this fund will support earthquake recovery and relief efforts in Ecuador and Japan. 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 local organizations.

gXyLGLw6Save the Children (4*)

Mission: Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we are dedicated to ensuring every child has the best chance for success. Our pioneering programs give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.

What your donation will do: Your support will help Save the Children protect vulnerable children and provide desperately needed relief to families. Ten percent of your contribution will be used to help prepare for the next emergency.

 

What to consider before donating:

  • _89284365_29ecb1eb-65e3-4bad-af7a-e1df221c3d7aDonate money, not goods. While many well-meaning people want to donate material goods, this is often not practical. In times of crisis, individuals and organizations may lack the infrastructure to handle material donations on time. Organizations on the ground can use your money to buy the things most needed and distribute them.
  • Make sure the organization you choose is well-established and has a history of doing similar work around the world. A great way to ensure that your money is going where you want it to is to check Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial health, accountability, and transparency of charity organizations. We’ve listed and linked to the ranking information pages for each of the organizations we’ve recommended above.
  • When donating, be sure you are on a page that designates donations toward relief in Ecuador or Japan, or ensure you are able to choose this particular cause as an option. Generally, without selecting a specific cause, organizations will use donated funds where they believe they are most needed.
  • Be wary of telemarketers, emails, or text-message based donations – especially if you aren’t confident about the organization you’re receiving messages from.
  • When you donate, sign up for a newsletter from the organization and be sure to keep tabs on what they are doing for earthquake relief in Japan.
  • For more tips and considerations on giving during times of crisis, click here.