Houston-based Indian-American non-profit physique Sewa International, which has raised almost $8 million in the direction of Covid-19 aid efforts in India, has dispatched the primary batch of two,184 oxygen concentrators from Atlanta.
The organisation has additionally ramped up its social media fund-raising purpose from the sooner $5 million to $10 million now.
Sewa mentioned the oxygen concentrators left Atlanta for New Delhi by air on Thursday. United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation is carrying the cargo freed from value, it added.
“Thanks to UPS Foundation for carrying our cargo free of cost, making all arrangements, and giving full cooperation to move the material. India team has lined up supply chain to efficiently distribute this across the country,” Sewa International mentioned in a Facebook put up.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to India. We are working with our partners to deliver much needed medical equipment. First shipment of over 2,000 oxygen concentrators for Sewa International are on their way,” the UPS Foundation tweeted.
Gitesh Desai, a spokesperson of Sewa International, mentioned the oxygen concentrators had been procured utilizing donations from Indian-Americans to assist India combat this disaster.
“Sewa is in the process of building a digital helpdesk to provide critical information on ambulance services, hospital bed availability and blood and medicinal supplies to people,” Desai additional mentioned.
Sewa International mentioned it has volunteers working each within the US and India, coordinating the work of elevating funds, procuring medical tools provides, and getting these to hospitals and establishments.
Its volunteers in India are making ready important provide kits to distribute to low-income households. Each package incorporates groceries, fundamental medicines, masks, sanitisers and hygiene provides, it added.
Responding to the overwhelming assist Sewa acquired for his or her Facebook fund-raising marketing campaign, the NGO’s Marketing and Fund Development vice-president, Sandeep Khadkekar, mentioned, “We are deeply moved by the response we have received from all of you for our fundraiser. Sewa appreciates your willingness to donate for a cause that would save many lives in India.”
“The Facebook fund-raising campaign has had such traction as Facebook is working with us to boost this initiative to ensure that Sewa International leverages the trust people have in us,” mentioned Viswanath Koppaka, the NGO’s director of promoting.
“We have about 85, 000 donors who have supported our Facebook campaign, and it has been a challenge to keep them in the loop of all the work going on behind the scenes. But we also have energetic volunteers pitching in, working late into the night, to do all that needs to be done to keep people informed,” he added.
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna thanked UPS for its efforts.
I had a terrific name this afternoon with Penny Naas, President International Public Affairs at UPS. She informed me of their dedication to ship oxygen and vaccines to India and to many different nations. Thank you UPS on your management throughout this public well being disaster. https://t.co/p523s94IfS
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 29, 2021
“I had a terrific call this afternoon with Penny Naas, President International Public Affairs at UPS. She told me of their commitment to deliver oxygen and vaccines to India and to many other nations. Thank you, UPS, for your leadership during this public health crisis,” Khanna tweeted.
New York-based American India Foundation (AIF) mentioned 500 oxygen concentrators are en path to Delhi to swiftly shore up provides of oxygen in India’s capital.
AIF is responding to the oxygen SOS by the Delhi authorities, and the concentrators are anticipated to achieve within the subsequent three days, the muse mentioned.
Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton issued a fundraising enchantment on behalf of the AIF and different non-profit our bodies.
“India is facing a surge of Covid cases that threatens to leave as many as 1 million people dead over the next few months. If you can, consider pitching in to organizations helping patients and frontline workers, like American India Foundation or others listed here,” Clinton mentioned in a Facebook put up.
The VHP of America has despatched a constitution flight from Chicago carrying life-saving oxygen mills and medical tools to India.
The New York Times on Thursday launched a listing of NGOs by which Indian-Americans can ship aid supplies or donate for Covid-19 efforts in India.
Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a Democratic celebration chief from California, introduced a grassroots stage initiative with a whole bunch of volunteers, calling individuals in India to observe social distancing protocols, put on masks, keep indoors and keep away from all gatherings for the following 8-12 weeks.
“This will help reduce the load on the broken medical system,” Bhutoria mentioned.
