After launching its Safety Check update for people who suffered in the Nepal earthquake, Facebook has now rolled out the Donate button for relief work in Nepal.
The button is visible right on top when you log into Facebook. You can either click on donate or simply go to learn more to get information about the organisation to which Facebook plans to donate.
The learn more page shows that Facebook will match your donation (upto $2 million) to the Nepal earthquake relief work and it will be given to the International Medical Corps, which is a global organisation.
The options to donate are Rs 500, Rs 1000, Rs 2500 and Rs 5000. You can choose to donate a higher amount as well for Nepal earthquake relief.
According to Facebook, “International Medical Corps’ emergency response teams are operating mobile medical units to deliver critically needed medical care and medicines to the regions hardest-hit by the earthquake.” The team is giving out “hygiene kits, water purification tablets and other supplies to keep families healthy.”
So far over 4310 people have died in the earthquake in Nepal with over 8000 people being injured. The death toll in Nepal is likely to rise as many remote villages are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Facebook had also launched the ‘Safety Check’ feature which tracks people (based on profile information or any other check-in updates) in an area that has been struck by natural disasters. Users in the area will be prompted by Facebook to update their status as safe and should do so to let their friends knows of the same.
Google also activated its ‘Person Finder’ tool to help track missing persons in Nepal. You can access the tool here.
Person Finder is a free tool that helps friends and family members search for missing persons after a calamity. People can request and provide information about missing persons on the site. Search is also available through SMS in India and the US. Users just have to text “search ” to +91-9773300000 in India or +1-650-800-3978 in the US.
