Photographers from Nepal and India are using social media to spread crucial information after a magnitude-7.3 earthquake shook the mountainous country Tuesday -- less than three weeks after a previous one killed thousands.
The Nepal Photo Project is capturing both the horrors of natural disaster and inspiring moments of hope on Instagram and Facebook, using the channels to provide a variety of important content to followers -- information on where need is the highest, links to fundraising campaigns to help victims and photographs of missing people, for example.
“Our main parameter for what we post is pretty simple -- that it should communicate something purposeful or meaningful," writer Tara Bedi, who helped launch the effort, explained to Time.com.
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Bedi started the project -- which has garnered more than 31,000 followers on Instagram since its inception on April 25 -- alongside photographer Sumit Dayal.
Social media users are encouraged to contribute images to the project by using the #NepalPhotoProject hashtag. Bedi told TakePart, however, that it's "extremely important" all shared information from the account is accurate -- all contributing photographers who aren't already known through her network are vetted to ensure credibility.
Dayal explained to Time.com that utilizing imagery to report what's happening -- as opposed to just sensationalizing the devastation -- was an important aspect to the project.
“It is becoming evident that people tend to consume news and information through images,” Dayal said. “Nepal Photo Project is our way of attempting to make sure that the visuals become more functional and personal in nature, as opposed to just devastation porn.”
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Nepal was still recovering from its worst earthquake in more than 80 years -- the death toll from the April 25 disaster has now hit 8,159, The New York Times reported -- when Tuesday's struck.
The most recent earthquake has reportedly killed 42 people and injured 1,117, according to Nepal's National Emergency Operation Center.
Death tolls from the disasters are expected to rise.
The button below indicates how much has been raised on Crowdrise's "Nepal Earthquake Relief" page. Click to visit the site and donate.
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