How to help the victims of the earthquake in Nepal

Over a thousand people are dead and tens of thousands of people are homeless after a powerful earthquake struck in Nepal on Saturday and officials warn the death toll will rise as more reports come in.

The magnitude 7.8 quake originated outside the capital of Kathmandu.

Within hours of the earthquake, emergency relief organizations sprung into action.

If you want to help, here are the websites of some of the agencies accepting donations:

– Red Cross teams are on the ground providing assistance and Canadians are encouraged to help support the effort.

– UNICEF is on the ground and responding to the needs of the affected children and families.

– Doctors Without Borders is sending teams to Nepal to assist earthquake victims.

– Save the Children has teams on the ground in Nepal coordinating an emergency response.

The Foreign Affairs Department says there are 388 Canadians registered as being in Nepal, but caution the number is an estimate because registration is voluntary.

Friends and family of Canadians in Nepal can contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre at 1-800-387-3124 or by email sos@international.gc.ca.

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To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— With files from The Canadian Press