Give cash. Not canned goods, not bottled water, not volunteer hours. Cash.
As aid groups rush to Nepal to assess needs after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake, and as they respond with search and rescue teams, medical interventions, and emergency water and sanitation within a critical 72-hour window, we’re once again reminded that the best way to lend a hand is by handing over money to a reputable organization.
International disasters spur inspiring generosity, but in the wake of crises like this one experts are driving home the message that even well-meaning contributions, when misplaced, don’t actually contribute that much — and sometimes get in the way.
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About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
