The world is utterly engrossed by the revolution that’s been underway in Egypt these past few weeks — and with good reason. Hundreds of thousands of protesters have demonstrated in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Alexandria and other locations throughout the country to fight for their rights, and it’s been an incredible and inspiring thing to watch.
Unfortunately, byproducts of the revolution include death, injury and unfair detention at the hands of the Mubarak regime for many protesters and journalists in the country. But there are some wonderful organizations working to help address some of the most dire problems happening in the region. Here are a few of them that you can support to help make a difference for everyone affected in Egypt.
1. The Committee to Protect Journalists is working to defend journalists from all over the world who have been detained, beaten or otherwise kept from reporting while in Egypt. According to a list compiled by ABC on February 3, there are dozens upon dozens of journalists who have faced danger in Egypt, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper and his camera crew, who were punched and kicked; ABC News correspondent Christiane Amanpour, whose car was attacked; and a number of Al Jazeera reporters, who have been attacked and had their headquarters looted. Support the CPJ here.
2. Amnesty International has several campaigns underway to help individuals whose human rights have been violated in Egypt. You can follow on Twitter Amnesty’s Jane Lynch, who is on the ground in Cairo and providing up-to-the-minute information on human rights violations and other happenings in the country; sign this petition calling on Vice President Omar Suleiman to uphold protesters’ rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly; or donate to the organization here.
3. Human Rights Watch is also keeping a very close eye on the human rights situation in Egypt. The organization’s news releases, Twitter feed and appeal letters provide critical information on the rights violations happening in the region. Support HRW here.
4. SOS Children’s Villages helps children and orphans in many of the areas impacted by protests and pro-government violence in Egypt. According to its mission statement, the group works to build families for children in need, help them shape their own futures and share in the development of their communities. Support SOS Children’s Villages here.
5. The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals says the recent political situation in the country has created “an animal welfare crisis,” with increased prices for food and medicine, street animals who have been injured and their food supplies disrupted, and a number of pet stores that have been unable to open for business but may have animals trapped inside. To help the non-human Egyptians, you can support the ESMA here.
Photo by Ahmad Hammoud via Flickr.