A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck near Kathmandu, Nepal over the weekend causing widespread devastation across the country.
The death toll sits at over 5,000 people and is still climbing.
In fact, Nepal’s Prime Minister fears the death toll could reach 10,000.
Like many organization around the world, the Chatham-Kent branch of the Canadian Red Cross are doing what they can to help with the immediate humanitarian needs for people in the region.
“We’ve hit the ground running,” Janet Brunschot, disaster management coordinator for the C-K branch. “All of the Red Cross branches as a whole are gathering supplies and accepting donations.”
Brunschot said the Red Cross is always prepared when disaster strikes, anywhere around the world.
“This is one thing that we pride ourselves in,” she said.
Brunschot said there are multiple ways people in Chatham-Kent can step up and donate.
“We will always accept cash donations… the money goes directly to the specific cause,” she said. People can come by our branch and we can issue you a receipt right on the spot. You can also go to redcross.ca online, it is safe and secure.”
The Chatham-Kent branch is located at 111 Heritage Road in Chatham, Suite 104.
Their hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Brunschot said if anyone is planning on holding a fundraiser to fundraise for the Nepal earthquake, to give them a call.
“There are a few forms to fill and that way we know they are going on and we can back them up,” she said.
The local Red Cross branch can be reached at 519-352-2510.
The federal and provincial governments have both stepped up to help as well.
All donations to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund until May 25 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the federal government.
The federal government also deployed an assessment team and elements of the Disaster Assistance Response Team from their Canadian Forces Base in Trenton. The Canadian Armed Forces is currently pre-positioning its personnel and resources in order to ensure a prompt reaction to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal.
The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is one component of Canada’s toolkit to respond to natural disasters abroad. It is a military organization ready to deploy quickly to conduct emergency relief operations.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said the Ontario government will contribute $1 million to the Red Cross to help its relief efforts in Nepal.
To donate online, visit http://www.redcross.ca/
