In the wake of a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake in South Asia – impacting Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan – the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has made two emergency grants to partners who will provide medical and emergency aid. In addition to the grants to the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute and International Blue Crescent, experts from JDC’s Disaster Relief and India teams are consulting with local and global partners to assess damage as the situation unfolds and ensure survivors’ immediate needs are addressed.

The earthquake – which is believed to have caused widespread damage and a growing death toll – hit northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border and caused large tremors in India, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

JDC has provided immediate relief and long-term assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters around the globe, including Nepal, the Philippines, Haiti, Japan, and South Asia after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and continues to operate programs designed to rebuild infrastructure and community life in disaster-stricken regions.

JDC’s disaster relief programs are funded by special appeals of the Jewish Federations of North America and tens of thousands of individual donors to JDC. JDC coordinates its relief activities with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, Interaction, and the United Nations.