The people of Jyekundo urgently need your immediate help for medicines, clothing, food and clean water, and in the longer term for rebuilding their community.

Machik is networked with Tibetans who have years of experience serving local community needs in the Jyekundo and surrounding areas.

Machik has created a safe mechanism for delivering funds directly to those who are best able to reach those most in need. We assure you that all funds donated through "Machik Earthquake Relief" will go directly to assisting the people of Jyekundo and the devastated communities.

Please send your cheque made out to "Machik" to the Machik office address below or donate online at www.machik.org today. (Please make certain to make a note in the donation form that indicates "Machik Earthquake Relief")

Canadian donors, please click here to give through CanadaHelps.org .

Thank you for your response at this urgent time.

Machik
1609 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20009

Updates: 

Images from Jyekundo
Please click here for a gallery of photos from Jyekundo, taken by Tsemdo Thar.

Rebuilding Communities in Crisis
April 28, 2010
Thanks to the early and swift response of supporters like you, Machik was able to move quickly in the early days of the crisis and wire a total of $38,000 directly to an outstanding coalition of local organizations working on the ground in Jyekundo.  Please know that contributions from Machik supporters were promptly put to use in bringing immediate relief to the devastated Tibetan areas.  Since then, Machik supporters from the USA, Canada and beyond have donated another $100,000 in response to the ongoing crisis in Jyekundo.

As the relief effort shifts to the urgent work of reconstruction, the Machik Jyekundo Earthquake Fund is fully committed and dedicated to rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in Jyekundo.  We would like you to know that your support will be used directly to support local initiatives to rebuild Tibetan communities struggling for survival.

Please also know that we are working with effective local organizations on the ground to develop projects and initiatives for reconstruction and revitalization - in Jyeku town and in surrounding rural and herding areas.

Check back here for updates, or visit the Yushu Earthquake Response (YER) website here to learn more about the coalition efforts in Jyekundo.  For more information, contact us directly at info [at] machik.org.You can support the reconstruction effort by making a tax-deductible donation to Machik here (please make certain to include "Jyekundo Earthquake Fund" in the 'notes' field) or from Canada here, or by donating through the YER website donation page here. 

Supplies on the  Way...
April 16, 2010 - 12:12pm
Thanks to the swift response and coordination of the local coalition of NGOs in Xining, the first shipment of relief supplies is on its way from Xining to Jyekundo. Thanks to the combined generosity of folks from all over the world we've helped to provide essential supplies including 5 tonnes of rice, 5 tonnes of noodles, 2 big generators, 2 large water filtration systems, 1 huge gas tank, wood stoves + fuel, tents, mattresses, and other supplies totaling 30 tonnes in all.

The following images were sent to us by YER and they are of the shipment as it prepared to leave Xining:

April 14, 2010 - On Tuesday, 13 April, a devastating earthquake struck in the Tibetan area of Jyekundo.  The quake measured approximately 6.9 and took place at 07.49 (23.49 GMT).

Due to limited capacity on the ground, it is difficult to assess the devastation at the moment. Early reports indicate that hundreds have perished, while a local observer estimates that the number is likely above 3000.  An estimated 80% of the buildings have collapsed. The water dam has been damaged and there are fears of the city being flooded.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic human loss and send our prayers for those who struggle for survival now.

Jyekundo is a Tibetan county approximately 800km southwest of the city of Xining.  It is on the border of the Kham and Amdo regions. The vast majority of the local people are Tibetan herders without access to emergency relief resources.