Giving suggestions to help with pandemic relief in India

India is struggling with a severe second wave of coronavirus that has infected millions, killed more than 250,000 and left the country’s health-care system under extreme stress, with oxygen and other medical equipment in scarce supply. More than half of the world’s new daily cases — 400,000 per day — were being recorded in India in mid-May.

Relief organizations are rushing supplies, medical equipment and staff to help. Here are some of the organizations helping people struggling in India:

Sewa, International is buying supplies, including medical equipment and oxygen-concentrators and ventilators and getting them to hospitals across India. The Charitable Foundation has recently made a grant to that organization, as have people with donor-advised funds at the Foundation.

Americares is providing essential personal protective equipment and infection-prevention supplies to frontline health workers.

Care is working with local partners to set up facilities to care for COVID patients; provide essential medical supplies and PPE and raise awareness about critical public-health measures.

Doctors without Borders has sent experienced teams of doctors, nurses, anesthesia technicians, and psychologists to work in field hospitals and other facilities, caring for people who require hospitalization and oxygen therapy.

Global Giving is providing funding to send doctors, nurses and other responders to communities in need, deliver oxygen, ventilators, and other supplies to hospitals and clinics, make vaccines more available and more.

UNICEF and partner organizations are delivering essential medical supplies, personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies to critical care centers as well as working on public-health education.

Please note that fees do apply for international grants made via donor-advised funds, but such fees do not apply for direct donations. Charitable Foundation fund-holders may contact our donor services team at 1-800-464-6641 for more information (select option three for donor services).