On May 27, 2006, a powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Java. The quake caused massive devastation, killing and injuring thousands. RI immediately deployed aid teams to earthquake-affected regions to provide food, water and medical supplies and to begin making plans for long-term sustainable redevelopment.
Through the National Solidarity Programme, RI promotes long-term development by supporting and guiding communities through the planning, managing, financing, and monitoring of locally-conceived development projects such as irrigation. RI facilitates this programme in over 90 communities in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.
The goal of the Gandhi Project is to engender peaceful and positive social change through the application of Gandhi’s philosophy of personal and social empowerment. By screening the film “Gandhi” and hosting audience discussions following the film, the Gandhi project brings non-violence to the forefront of current political debate.
At least 22,000 people are dead following a massive Category 3 cyclone in Myanmar on May 2, 2008. The largest natural disaster in Myanmar in over a decade, Cyclone Nargis has left hundreds of thousands without shelter, clean drinking water and other basic needs. Critical damage to infrastructure, including telecommunications lines, buildings and roads has limited access to significant portions of the population, particularly in rural areas. RI is currently assessing the extent of the damage and the Rapid Emergency Deployment (RED) team is on standby to provide additional assistance.
Sir Ben Kingsley Tours Pakistan Earthquake Zone with RI.
