One of the charitable organisations I am fond of for their "grass roots" and egalitarian appraoch to helping others is Khalsa Aid who recently release this statement:
Note: you can see more here.

PRESS RELEASE – KHALSA AID: 16TH MARCH 20011

Most of you will have seen the tragedy that has struck Japan, firstly with the earthquake, the tsunami that followed and now the fallout from the nuclear plant. Some of you have been asking what Khalsa Aid is doing to help in this disaster. Planning

From day 1, Khalsa Aid has been assessing the situation, having made direct contact with a number of Government authorities, fellow Sikhs living in the area, as well as other charity organisations involved in similar work to KA. Currently the overriding message is that only government-approved organisations are being allowed in the area. Indeed the International Rescue Corp (IRC) based in the UK was turned away simply to return to the UK having achieved nothing. See link below covering this news in more detail:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12756366

The local Gurdwara in Tokyo have prepared Langar to serve to those in need, but have been prevented from getting to the affected areas. All transportation to Sendai and other towns hit by the tsunami has ceased.

Rest assured KA is keen support the rescue efforts in Japan by offering our seva as soon as is practicably possible. Some of our most senior and experienced relief workers are on standby, ready to leave for Japan whenever the opportunity arises. We are very conscious that we do not want to waste Sangath’s money in sending volunteers to Japan only to be turned away, like with the IRC.

Ravinder Singh CEO, currently in Haiti with 2 other volunteers, is returning to the UK immediately to assess the situation in Japan.

Khalsa Aid is also assessing the situation at the Libyan Tunisia border, where some 250,000 refugees are stranded and living in torrid conditions.

Please refer to the KA website where we will keep the Sangath updated as soon as we can on both of these projects…………

However, what has shocked me the most about this situation is that the local Labour Party has made it clear that they simply do not care. Sharma was recently quoted as saying "I have no compassion" for those destitute in Southall. Hardly the sort of response one would expect from their leading local politician. I suspect Julian Bell (Sharma's Alistair Campbell) was not on hand to provide a more considered response - maybe he's on holiday...

The response can be read here.

It was a shameless attempt to curry favour with the local electorate. Well, it won’t wash with us. Even though he may have a short memory, we don’t. We all know that when the issue of departmental closures at Ealing Hospital came up Sharma was nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t even be bothered to turn up to the hustings held for him by “Save Our Services” –instead, spent his time having a curry at a restaurant just down the road! Now, all of a sudden he’s feigning an interest. Again, it won’t wash.
I am writing this just to set the record straight and sprinkle some truth over the lies that pepper Sharma’s career. Here is the transcript of Sharma’s question with some commentary:

I am sorry for not giving the prior notice to the Prime Minister, but I am confident that, given his reassurance on the NHS, he will be able to answer my question this afternoon.
-Watching Sharma’s opening was like watching a Big Brother winner – he couldn’t have looked more glad to be in the spotlight –his demeanor lacked poise and sincerity. He continued:

Does he agree with me and the Secretary of State for Health that it makes no sense to close Ealing hospital's accident and emergency department, given that 100,000 patients use this service each year?
Note: it is the Conservative Secretary of State he was referring to – the Labour predecessor never gave such assurances. Should Sharma not point this out and congratulate the Tory Secretary of State for being so bold?
Will the Prime Minister also take this opportunity to end rumours of coalition plans to close the entire Ealing hospital?
-What rumours? There are no such rumours unless of course they have been spread by Sharma and his cronies. “Coalition plans”?! Mr Sharma clearly needs a lesson in understanding the facts! All previous plans to cut services including the Stroke services at Ealing Hospital were drawn up under the Labour administration that he represented at the time!

Mr Sharma, it is clear to me that this “unplanned” interjection at PMQs was purely an attempt by you to get your name in the spotlight. There’s no honesty behind it and to be frank, you’re months late. One of the first things the Tory Sec for Health made clear when appointed was that A&E at Ealing would not be closed. My advice to you – please find something of REAL concern to your constituents. Sharma could have done better to point out that only on the previous evening his colleagues at the Ealing council, in these times of austerity, voted en-block against the motion that would have meant a reduction of all councillor’s allowances by 10% and saved Ealing council almost £500,000 over four years. This was made even more despicable as the same Labour councillors rather than supporting a cut of 10% in their allowances voted to close the Albert Day Centre for the disabled in Southall under the pretence to save even an smaller amount of money. So much for Labour’s friendship to the residents of Southall. For further information on Albert Day centre, please visit the following link.

Gurcharan Singh