The death toll in the devastating earthquake of magnitude 8.1 that struck China's neighboring country Nepal at noontime on Saturday has already climbed to more than 2,000. One of the strongest ever tremors in the past couple of years worldwide and the strongest in Nepal in 80 years, it has also caused casualties and property damage in China's Tibet autonomous region.

China has already sent a rescue team with some 60 members to Nepal and the Chinese leaders have sent their condolences to the leaders of Nepal.

Natural disasters know no border and they often catch us unawares. Tremors of similar magnitude struck China's Sichuan and Qinghai provinces in the past decade. We know how desperate the people trapped underneath the collapsed structures are for help. We know how hospitals in Kathmandu valley are in dire need of medicines and facilities to save the lives. We know how commodities such as tents and food are badly needed to help the local residents get through the nights in the open.