India is facing an unsurmountable second wave of the Covid-19 crisis. With around 17 million cases recorded since the first pandemic began, this figure comes with a tragic shortage of oxygen supplies, hospital beds, medicines and unfortunately, even crematoriums. But amid the doom and despair of the coronavirus pandemic, humanity is coming together to fight this battle of a lifetime. Home cooks are cooking and delivering food, free of cost, to Covid patients, auto drivers are ferrying sick people and netizens are bombarding the internet with important Covid information to help those in need. If you stay abroad yet wish to help India battle the pandemic, then you surely can. Here are 6 ways you can help India from afar. This is a compiled list of resources you can use to spread the word about the crisis. There are also links to donate to fundraisers that contribute to on-the-ground operations in some of the most affected regions. One small donation can make a large difference.
1. GiveIndia
GiveIndia raises funds for frontliners, patients and everyone suffering from the second wave of the Covid-19 crisis in India. It initially launched India COVID Response Fund-1 in April 2020. GiveIndia raised ₹220 crores from foundations, corporations and individuals for the same. You can support trusted campaigns which include donating sanitary napkins, food and oxygen tanks. This is the country’s most popular crowdfunding platform. It aims to provide food, healthcare and other critical needs to those in need. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have also pledged to help India breathe again with GiveIndia’s fundraiser.
Link to donate here.
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2. Khalsa Aid
The popular U.K based international non-profit humanitarian organisation, Khalsa Aid has been actively providing oxygen concentrators to Covid positive patients in home isolation, private and government hospitals in Delhi. They also launched a new hotline service where people could procure oxygen concentrators at home. Khalsa Aid initiated the project from Delhi as it’s India’s worst affected city. The UK based NGO had earlier provided a lot of support during the farmer protests in India.
Link to donate here.
In this unprecedented state of medical emergency, We has fortunately managed to arrange limited Oxygen concentrator for COVID-19 patients. This project will be initiated from Delhi as it is the worst affected city.
Together,we will fight this situation. #covidsecondwaveinindia pic.twitter.com/HydTQyHqWP— Khalsa Aid India (@khalsaaid_india) April 23, 2021
3. The Desai Foundation
The Desai Foundation is by a woman for women in India. Led by Megha Desai, this foundation aims to empower women and children through educational, community development and health programmes. Currently, the foundation needs help to raise $250,000 ( ₹1.85 crores) for its ongoing Covid relief efforts spread across Maharashtra Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This no-profit makes and distributes masks, procures vaccines and oxygen to care for its over 1000 local communities.
Link to donate here.
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4. COVID-19 Oxygen For India
The Covid-19 situation in India is tragic. India is literally gasping for breath. The healthcare system is stretched out thin, facing an extreme shortage of oxygen at many facilities. Patients are dying due to lack of oxygen while waiting for hours in ambulances for hospital beds. This is the ground reality in our country. But this is not the end of the road. You can help to provide oxygen concentrators. How? Well, a Go Fund Me campaign named COVID-19 Oxygen For India supplies oxygen to urban and rural hospitals. Make your donations and save lives.
Link to donate here
5. Mazdoor Kitchen
A citizen-run voluntary initiative, Mazdor Kitchen works to offer meals and subsistence to daily wage workers in North Delhi. This initiative is run by a dedicated team of volunteers comprising of students, professors, artists and people from the community. Mazdoor Kitchen provides ration kits and meals to hundreds of needy people across North Delhi. They have been doing this since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic. You too can feed mouths, all you need to do is donate.
Link to donate here.
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6. The American Indian Foundation
The American Indian Foundation has started a Covid relief plan. This is a three-tiered Covid relief plan that focuses on securing ventilators, PPE, oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters. It also aims to procure cold storage equipment for decentralised vaccine administration. The American Indian Foundation also raises awareness about vaccinations, Covid prevention tactics and helps to set up portable hospitals. Moreover, your donation will also help to mitigate nutrition gaps among women and children due to Covid.
Link to donate here.
Every drop counts. So, even if you do not stay in India, you can always lend a helping hand by creating awareness on Covid resources and also donating to these wonderful NGOs. One oxygen concentrator, a nutritious meal or a ventilator can reach those in need, with a little help from you.