Earthquake relief during this holiday season

The last five years have seen some of the most damaging earthquakes in history: China, Pakistan, Sumatra.

Beichuan, China, 2008

www.telegraph.co.uk

In this season of American Thanksgiving and year-end holidays, some of us interested in the field of seismology and earthquakes might wonder how we could aid some of the victims of these not-so-long-ago disasters.

There are many excellent relief agencies out there (although perhaps some not so efficient as others). There are groups which independently audit charitable agencies, and one that I came across online is the American Institute of Philanthropy. This group suggests that especially worthwhile agencies for Chinese earthquake relief are:

• Church World Service
• Habitat for Humanity International
• Mercy Corps
• Oxfam - America
• Save The Children
• U.S. Fund for UNICEF
• World Vision
  

Other agencies that might be worth considering include:

• Mennonite Central Committee
• Islamic Relief Worldwide
• Direct Relief International
• Global Giving