Together with International Medical Corps, Meta has announced support for immediate relief and rescue efforts in Afghanistan, where the recent earthquake has caused widespread devastation and displacement of communities. This support will go toward providing essential relief items for thousands of people who are looking to the international community for support.
The earthquake has resulted in the death of over 1,000 people, displacing tens of thousands of people and partially or fully destroying 10,000 homes. Relief efforts have been hampered by lack of essential supplies, limited access to affected areas and inclement weather.
In addition to financial support, several product tools have been enabled on Facebook for communities to maintain contact during such critical times. Soon after the earthquake, Facebook made the Safety Check feature available for people in Afghanistan to mark themselves as safe. A Crisis Response page for this event is also available on Facebook, enabling people to share information, coordinate relief efforts and offer support.
“Meta’s swift and generous support is helping speed recovery efforts to those who need it most,” said Rebecca Milner, Chief Advancement Officer for International Medical Corps. “In addition, the many features offered by Facebook enable people to support first responders like International Medical Corps, while those affected by these emergencies are able to quickly get in touch with loved ones.”
“Our hearts go out to the people and families who have been affected by this earthquake. In times of crisis, people turn to Facebook to check on loved ones and get updates. We will continue to work closely with our partners to provide immediate relief for people of Afghanistan,” a Meta spokesperson said.
Facebook is home to the largest community of volunteers and donors, coming together to make the world a better place. Its Community Help tool within Crisis Response enables people to ask for and offer help in the affected area for things like shelter, food, water, transportation and volunteer work.
About International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps is a global first responder that delivers emergency medical and related services to those affected by conflict, disaster and disease, no matter where they are, no matter the conditions. It also trains people in their communities, providing them with the skills they need to recover, chart their own path to self-reliance and become effective first responders themselves. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, it is a nonprofit with no religious or political affiliation, and now has roughly 7,500 staff members around the world, 97% of whom are locally hired. Since its founding, it has operated in more than 80 countries, and provided more than $3.9 billion in emergency relief and training to communities worldwide.
About Meta
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.