At Action Without Borders, our mission is to connect individuals and organizations that work to improve the lives of people around the world. There are few occasions when such connections are more important than in the event of sudden disasters and emergencies. On this page, we have collected resources for people and organizations looking to contribute to critical disaster relief efforts in crises around the world.
It is also worth noting that some of the organizations listed in Idealist are based in disaster-hit regions. As time passes and the focus shifts from emergency response to long-term reconstruction, these organizations will need assistance to rebuild and continue their programs. If you cannot contribute now, please consider doing so in some way in the future.
On the morning of October 8, 2005, a major earthquake struck South Asia. The quake's epicenter was in the Pakistan-administered section of the disputed Kashmir region, with casualties and damage extending to areas of northwestern India and northeastern Afghanistan. At least 73,000 people are believed dead so far, and an estimated 3 million people have been left homeless. Despite the earthquake's magnitude (7.6 on the moment magnitude scale, ranking among the most powerful quakes in decades) the response of the international community has been roundly disparaged as slow and stingy. The relief effort has also been complicated by Kashmir's rugged terrain: With many roads damaged or impeded by landslides, airlifts of supplies are proving crucial for quake survivors in remote mountain villages. The timing of the storm, too, has compounded the desperation: As winter draws near, there is a critical need for warm clothes and cold-weather tents in addition to food, medicine, and other supplies. Though scores of NGOs and charities are assisting in the relief efforts, few are receiving sufficient financial support to respond adequately to this complex catastrophe. Many now see the situation in Kashmir as a race against time.
Network For Good
This page from Network For Good features links to a wide variety of charities and nonprofits involved in the earthquake recovery efforts, and allows you to read about the activities of the different groups and donate to them at the click of a button.
Kashmir International Relief Fund (KIRF)
A British registered charity, the Kashmir International Relief Fund (KIRF) has a longstanding presence in the region most affected by the earthquake and is one of many NGOs conducting critical relief efforts.
Mercy Corps Emergency Blanket Project
Mercy Corps is coordinating a special campaign to purchase and deliver high-tech emergency survival blankets, which can help quake survivors fight the winter cold as they rebuild their homes. You can read more about the effort here, and donate to the project here.
Volunteer Opportunities from Idealist: Earthquake
Click the link for volunteer opportunities from the Idealist database tied to the keyword "Earthquake."
Relief Information System for Earthquakes – Pakistan (RISE-PAK)
RISE-PAK is an information center that relays reports of needs and news from quake-affected areas of Pakistani Kashmir on a village by village basis. It aims to improve coordination of the relief effort.
South Asia Quake Help Blog
This blog compiles information, aid requests, volunteer opportunities, missing/found persons, and other news related to the Kashmir quake. The blog was founded by members of the team that created the SEA-EAT blog in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster of December 2004.
Pakistan Earthquake 2005
This website aggregates news and aid appeals emanating from Pakistan in the aftermath of the quake.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the southern coast of the United States. Katrina's high winds, heavy rain, and sluggish trajectory resulted in devastating damage to coastal and inland areas of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Amid a confused and ill-planned evacuation effort, chaos ensued, exacerbating the situation for victims of Katrina. More than a thousand people were killed by the storm and subsequent floods, and hundreds of thousands more people were displaced from their homes. A massive public outpouring of support for the hurricane victims quickly took shape, with record donations accumulating, volunteers offering their services, and strangers opening their homes to displaced residents from the affected regions. Weeks into the Katrina recovery effort, on September 24, Hurricane Rita made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, causing more damage and displacement.
With widespread public support, nonprofit organizations have been a key component of the hurricane recovery efforts in the U.S. Gulf states. Action Without Borders/Idealist.org compiled this list of resources to help both members of the public and staff at nonprofits in the region contribute to the Katrina and Rita recovery efforts.
Network For Good
This page from Network For Good features links to a wide variety of charities and nonprofits involved in the hurricane recovery efforts, and allows you to read about the activities of the different groups and donate to them at the click of a button.
Bush Clinton Katrina Fund
This is the U.S. federal government's umbrella fundraising campaign for Gulf Coast hurricane relief efforts.
Volunteer Opportunities from Idealist: Katrina, Rita, Hurricane, Disaster Relief
Click these links for volunteer opportunities from the Idealist database tied to the keywords "Katrina," "Rita," and "Hurricane," or the category "Disaster Relief."
1-800-Volunteer.org Hurricane Relief Page
The Points of Light Foundation's 1-800-Volunteer.org site features a search engine specifically geared toward volunteer placements in the hurricane relief efforts.
Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (MCVS)
The MCVS encourages Mississippians to volunteer in their communities, while supporting the network of organizations that woerk with volunteers statewide.
OneStar Foundation's Texas Responds site
This site aggregates information on the hurricane response in Texas, which took in many refugees after Katrina and was then struck by Rita as well. The "Texas Responds Locator" pinpoints areas where both volunteers and donations are needed.
Oxfam America Gulf Hurricanes site
This resource center from Oxfam America features news, knowledge sharing, health tips, and other advice for volunteers contributing to the Gulf Coast cleanup.
Search Idealist for Volunteer Opportunities Anywhere
Remember: there are volunteer opportunities close to your home that can allow you to assist with the hurricane response. Search for a volunteer opportunity in your area.
Search Idealist for Nonprofit Organizations
All kinds of nonprofits in and outside the affected region are assisting in the hurricane response. Search for a nonprofit in your area that may need your help.
USA Freedom Corps
This is the U.S. federal government's portal for volunteerism. Search for volunteer opportunities related to hurricane relief efforts.
Alliance for Nonprofit Management's Katrina Page
This page lists resources for people who are working with nonprofits affected by the hurricane disaster. Emphasis on capacity building and grassroots relief efforts.
TechSoup's Katrina Relief Resources
This page features guides to disaster recovery from an IT perspective, as well as a section for storm-affected nonprofits seeking hardware and software donations.
Volunteer Today's Katrina Issue Volunteer Today, an e-magazine about volunteerism, released a special edition providing advice to volunteer managers working in the Katrina response.
Foundations for Recovery
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation established this portal site to report on its Katrina relief efforts; the Foundation also oversees two funds designed to address the catastrophic impact of the hurricane on southeast Louisiana.
Southeast Council of Foundations
The Southeast Council of Foundations is a membership organization dedicated to promoting philanthropy in the Southeast region of the United States. Their website has special pages about the short- and long-term Katrina recovery efforts, including information on various foundations' responses to the disaster.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA is the U.S. government's emergency management body, and plays a major role in dispersing federal funds for recovery efforts.
Campus Compact's Katrina Page
This page lists relief efforts of various Campus Compact member schools and includes online forums for discussion.
Campusrelief.org
This is a new information clearinghouse developed by the American Council on Education and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. It includes a database of schools offering assistance to students and temporary employment to faculty and staff.
NOLA Hurricane Fund
This initiative, set up by Tulane University students, seeks to provide relief to school and university students affected by the hurricane. The site includes a "College Challenge" competition to raise funds.
Oxfam America Gulf Hurricanes site
Oxfam America's Gulf Hurricanes sub-site features ways for students to get involved in the Gulf Coast recovery efforts.
Paper Clip Communications Katrina Special Report (pdf)
This special report covers a variety of topics including creative fundraising ideas, considerations for faculty and staff, campus disaster preparedness tips, and more.
Universities Rebuilding America Partnership (URAP)
A program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the URAP project seeks to augment the ongoing response by colleges across the United States. URAP aims to organize teams of students to assist in long-term rebuilding efforts.
In addition to the emergencies that we highlight on this page, disaster relief efforts are constantly ongoing in places all around the world. From famine and warfare to natural disasters and pandemic illnesses, lamentably there is no shortage of ongoing emergencies. Below you'll find a few resources that can help you get involved in efforts to react to and recover from these disasters.
ReliefWeb
This UN-affiliated website provides perhaps the most exhaustive monitoring of the world's many disasters and the humanitarian response to these crises, with sections on news, funding appeals, policy analysis, training resources, and job openings.
HelpInDisaster.org
This website created by the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network lets people register to volunteer in advance of a disaster. This improves the likelihood that volunteers' skills can be used appropriately and efficiently in the event of a disaster. The service is U.S.-specific.
Psychosocial.org
This specialist site developed by Action Without Borders provides resources and advice to aid agency staff and managers to help them deal with the particular stresses of humanitarian relief work. Many of the resources may be useful to other people coping with post-disaster stress, too.
Search Idealist for Nonprofit Organizations
Typically, all kinds of nonprofits in and outside the affected region assist in disaster recovery efforts. You can search for a nonprofit in your area that is mounting an effort to assist a specific recovery effort, or for an organization in the affected region that may need your help.
Search Idealist for Volunteer Opportunities Anywhere
Remember: there are volunteer opportunities close to your home that may allow you to assist (even indirectly) with disaster relief efforts. Search for a volunteer opportunity in your area.
OneWorld.net's Perspectives "Dealing With Disasters"
The October 2005 edition of OneWorld.net's e-magazine, Perspectives, features a range of articles and views from disaster relief agencies describing their work.
On the morning of October 8, 2005, a major earthquake struck South Asia. The quake's epicenter was in the Pakistan-administered section of the disputed Kashmir region, with casualties and damage extending to areas of northwestern India and northeastern Afghanistan. At least 73,000 people are believed dead so far, and an estimated 3 million people have been left homeless. Despite the earthquake's magnitude (7.6 on the moment magnitude scale, ranking among the most powerful quakes in decades) the response of the international community has been roundly disparaged as slow and stingy. The relief effort has also been complicated by Kashmir's rugged terrain: With many roads damaged or impeded by landslides, airlifts of supplies are proving crucial for quake survivors in remote mountain villages. The timing of the storm, too, has compounded the desperation: As winter draws near, there is a critical need for warm clothes and cold-weather tents in addition to food, medicine, and other supplies. Though scores of NGOs and charities are assisting in the relief efforts, few are receiving sufficient financial support to respond adequately to this complex catastrophe. Many now see the situation in Kashmir as a race against time.
In addition to the emergencies that we highlight on this page, disaster relief efforts are constantly ongoing in places all around the world. From famine and warfare to natural disasters and pandemic illnesses, lamentably there is no shortage of ongoing emergencies. Below you'll find a few resources that can help you get involved in efforts to react to and recover from these disasters.