Yushu Earthquake Response

Immediate Response: TVP has received an amazing response from around the world since the earthquake on April 14th that killed about 2,300 (official count) people; injured more than 10,000, and destroyed about 85 percent of the houses in Jiegu, a town of 100,000 people. TVP was one of the first Tibetan organizations to be on the ground and played an important role in forming and coordinating the relief effort of the Yushu Earthquake Response Coalition.

With your generous support,TVP has raised over $100,000 between April 16th and July 1st, TVP raised approximately $175,000 specifically for Yushu earthquake aid, which included: (1) coordinating relief effort; (2) distributing supplies such as food, water, clothing, tents, and other basic staples; (3) supporting temporary relief workers and volunteers; and (4) helping to rebuild business communities.

Interim Response: By now, there is no hope of finding anyone alive. Basic needs for shelter [need more about tents] and food have been met and the response is now focusing on longer-term relief efforts. NGOs, social organizations and others are looking to focus on social needs, such as rebuilding businesses, providing training and facilitating the flow of information. The government plans to focus on rebuilding infrastructure such as homes, schools, hospitals and roads, etc. However, it is estimated that it will take between one and three years to rebuild homes. That means, the average family of six in the Yushu area will continue to remain in a 12 x 12 ft summer tent, concerned about how they can feed themselves and their families on a daily basis.

When you make a contribution to the Tibetan Village Project, it will enable to us to continue our relief effort on the ground by focusing on areas that are getting the least support from the government and other aid agencies (filling an important gap). For example, recently a group of medical volunteers treating 300-400 patients per day needed two extra tents and more medicine. TVP was able to immediately fill that gap to ensure patients received care promptly. One of the campgrounds has a huge sanitation problem with overflowing waste. TVP has purchased 10,000 reusable garbage bags and helped to organize local volunteers to clean up the grounds. If a family of ten needs an extra tent, earthquake orphans need some clothes, or a village needs to rent a truck to pick up donated supplies, your donation for Yushu earthquake relief will be used for this purpose.

By Credit	By Wire Transfer	By Mail
	Great Western Bank 2775 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302-3811 Account # 154528 Routing #091408734 Swift Code: USBKUS44IMT	Tibetan Village Project 10542 Kipling Place Westminster, CO 80021 USA Tibetan Village Project P.O. Box 417 Black Rock, 3193 Victoria, Australia
By PayPal

Long-Term Response: While the government and their counterparts have pledged millions of dollars to rebuild Yushu, most of these funds have not yet arrived and the timeline for their arrival is not yet clear. In addition, many of those affected by the earthquake are concerned that corruption and political complications will interfere with rebuilding. To lessen dependency on external aid, as well as create an environment where aid can be utilized properly, there is an immediate need to provide support and training to get businesses back up and running. A highly competitive and distorted market is rapidly emerging for goods and services in post-disaster Jiegu/Yushu, and there is particular need to train those who do not have experience in commerce or services, and those whose previous work is no longer possible, to be able to rapidly enter and operate in this environment.

TVP plans to focus on rebuilding lives (one family at a time in villages) by providing skills training and offering seed money to develop businesses and ultimately to generate income and assist in developing commerce and independence in post-earthquake Yushu (see our microfinance program).

Whether you choose to support directly or use other aid agencies, people of Yushu need support from everyone. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting a specific project through TVP, please contact us to receive a proposal.

With your continued support, we can reassure the people of Yushu that while their story is no longer on the front page of newspapers, they will not be forgotten, and people around the world care about their fellow human beings. Please consider making a donation and share this page with others using social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Thank You.

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