India's COVID-19 Crisis

India's COVID-19 Crisis

India is facing its worst humanitarian crisis in decades, and one that threatens to become global.

As has been widely reported, COVID-19 is ravaging India, with over 350,000 new cases per day, and almost 3,000 new deaths per day reported in the last week. Some estimate that the true number of cases and deaths is significantly higher, and these numbers will rise in the coming weeks. One estimate expects 800,000 to 1 million daily cases and 4,500 daily deaths by mid-May. The Indian healthcare system has been totally overwhelmed, and individuals are being driven to seek essential services on their own. Individual and social channels are inundated with urgent requests for oxygen cylinders, beds with ventilators, plasma, and antivirals. Often, help does not come soon enough. The starkness of the crisis is plain and abundant. Many Indian and Indian-origin students have family members and friends who are or were in critical condition, or have passed away in the last two weeks.

In recent days, numerous governments, including Pakistan, Australia, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have expressed sympathies and offered material assistance. The United States has, notably, expressed that it will export its entire reserve of Astra Zeneca vaccines once they have been produced—we hope that India will be a beneficiary. This crisis will remain at this level of severity for some time.

U.S.-based donations have been mobilized by members of Congress, diaspora groups, industry, and nonprofit groups. These efforts are growing, and even the smallest donation matters.

Alarmingly, cases are now rising in certain other South Asian countries, notably Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Please be mindful of ways to support friends, colleagues, and community members as this crisis persists and threatens to broaden.

SIPA Community Support

The SIPA community can share and aggregate basic information about the evolving situation on the ground and ways that anyone can support, both tangibly and intangibly. It can amplify fundraising drives and ensure that awareness of the rapidly evolving situation remains. And it can provide sympathy and solidarity with Indian students, and provide any and all support required. Please be aware of the immensity of the tragedy taking place, maintain cognizance of the situation as it stands, and keep Indian friends and colleagues in your hearts.

If you would find useful a virtual listening/discussion session with SIPA students this week or next, please indicate here.
 

What You Can Do

This crisis is multifaceted and localized, but there are several resources and organizations that are reliable starting points if you want to make a difference right now. More organizations and fundraisers are emerging by the day, so this is an evolving list. Please send others that should be highlighted.

The most critical need is oxygen. You can donate easily through the reputable GiveIndia to fund the supply and distribution of oxygen cylinders to hospitals and care centers throughout India. Sewa International USA is raising funds for oxygen concentrators, essential medical supplies, and basic needs support. The Hemkunt Foundation is organizing oxygen cylinder relief in the Delhi area and accepts international donations. And the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), UNICEF, and Mission Oxygen are running effective oxygen drives.

Additionally, this live document lists organizations that are accepting donations via international credit cards. These are intended to amplify local efforts on the ground, particularly in support of marginalized groups.

This live document tracks ongoing mutual aid fundraisers at a more granular level.

There are numerous donation avenues--this is just a start.
 

Stay Informed

Hard Data

• New York Times Coronavirus Case Data
• IHME Data and Projections
• COV-IND-19 Project Data and Projections [led by the reputable Bhramar Mukherjee and the University of Michigan Biostatistics Department]

Reporting and Analysis

Among U.S.-based outlets, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post are covering the issue appropriately. In addition, Scroll.in, Hindustan Times, and the Hindu are reliable English-language sources based in India. Realistically, Twitter and local social channels are essential to keep up with the rapidity of events on the ground.

Please reach out if you are interested in collaborating on shared resources and community outreach.

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A bulletin from the South Asia Association/community of SIPA students.