A Nepalese man checks his cell phone as people stay on open ground from fears of earthquake tremors in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, April 27, 2015.Niranjan Shrestha/The Associated Press
Canadian phone companies are allowing their customers to make free phone calls to Nepal after a devastating earthquake on Saturday killed thousands, bringing down power and jamming phone signals.
Koodoo Mobile and its parent company Telus Mobility announced that the costs of all calls to and from Nepal will be waived following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have rocked Nepal over the past few days.
"Do you need to reach loved ones in Nepal? We're waiving the cost of all calls/texts to/from the area for the next 2 weeks," said Telus Mobility in a tweet on Monday.
Wind Mobile announced its non-roaming customers can make free calls to Nepal for the next week.
Fido and its parent company Rogers tweeted a few hours later, saying they will be "waiving long distance fees for calls to until May 12" to the Himalayan country. "Like you, our thoughts today are with all those affected by the deadly earthquake in Nepal," said Rogers through a post on the company's website.
Bell pledged $100,000 to Red Cross Canada to "assist people impacted by Saturday's earthquake in Nepal."
Canadians can also use their mobile to support relief efforts through the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada.
- Text REDCROSS to 45678 to donate $10 or to 30333 to donate $5 to the Canadian Red Cross.
- Text NEPAL to 45678 to donate $10 to UNICEF
- Text RELEIFNEPAL to 45678 to donate $10 the UN World Food Programme
- Text GIVE to 41010 to donate $10 to GIVE
- Text URGENCE to donate $5 to World Vision Canada
This story corrects an early version that incorrectly stated Bell was pledging $100-million.