http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-7-5-magnitude/index.html

There may be deaths in Everest Base Camp. I slept there two nights over Easter weekend, just a few weeks ago. Yipes.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153374789225757&id=68842540756

To be honest, while I am sympathetic to the plight of the climbers, it is the people in Kathmandu who desperately need help. Initial reports say 1,000 dead - but it is likely that this toll will climb much higher.

The U.N. has been warning residents of Kathmandu for years that a huge earthquake would come, based on seismic studies. The PROBLEM is that many, many people are living in houses made of bricks and stones. So the dwellings are very vulnerable to quakes. However, with the population explosion in the city, there was nothing else that people could do.

They SERIOUSLY NEED emergency help over there, folks!!
IF anyone here can pack their bags and GO ... this is an important disaster to RESPOND to!!
Good luck!!

Pete

If anyone gets any info on global relief groups who are working this Nepal earthquake and GETTING THINGS DONE - please post the INFO here. I am talking specifically about groups who are going there and doing excellent work. It doesn't matter if the relief groups are large or tiny ... it just matters that they are on-location and making a real contribution.

This list will provide a good source if you want to make DONATIONS.
Also, if anyone does want to VOLUNTEER, the suggestions on this thread will give you some places to start.

thanks folks!!
Pete

Pete - a friend of mine has done several treks in Nepal and Bhutan and is friends with Jamling Norgay (the son of Tenzing Norgay - who summited Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary).

My friend has e-mailed Jamling and will let me know if he recommends a particular fund or organization. Meanwhile, she's checking to see what the American Himalayan Foundation is doing to help. Jamling's brother works there.

http://www.himalayan-foundation.org



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Yes, the need will be greatest in and around Kathmandu and not at base camp. Some relief groups posted on cnn...

http://www.cnn.com/specials/impact-your-world

The American Himalayan Foundation is taking donations to direct toward disaster relief needed because of these earthquakes:


Please make a donation and direct it to Earthquake Disaster Relief on the donation page.

Or call us at 415.288.7245

We have started a fund to help people affected by this sudden, devastating tragedy. 100% of gifts will go directly to emergency aid and helping rebuild and recover in the wake of this terrible disaster.



The page discussing the disaster relief:

http://www.himalayan-foundation.org/blog


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DAGNY - thanks, great job!!

I fear that there are LOT more people buried in the small villages that are at the epicenter of that quake. But the greatest need is probably Kathmandu itself - just because of the sheer density of the population. This is a very COLD place for people to be outside and without shelter ... after a major quake.

Pete

Death toll from this earthquake now at 1510 people and climbing.

Here is the best site that I know for earthquake info ...

http://earthquake-report.com/

Pete

That is a very informative page, Pete, thanks.

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UPDATE

Casualty figure now almost 2,000 people.

The weather is raining at the epicenter, close to the village of Barpak in Nepal. People there have no shelter, no food, and are scared to go back inside their homes. Overnight temperatures are 12 deg C.

There is an URGENT NEED for first responders to get food and medical supplies into the epicenter zone.

Pete