Race to get relief supplies through after new Nepal earthquake

Christian Aid emergency workers in Nepal are trying with partner organisations to get relief through this morning to the area worst hit by today’s earthquake.

The earthquake struck at about 13:00 local time. The US Geological Survey said it measured 7.4 on the Richter scale, compared to the April 26 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8.

The epicentre of today’s earthquake was the town of Namche Bazaar in eastern Nepal, the last major settlement before Everest basecamp.

Christian Aid emergency programme officer Yeeshu Shukla, already in Nepal to help co-ordinate relief efforts after the first earthquake, was in the Sindhupalchowk region some 40 miles away when the building he was in began shaking.

“For a moment, I felt that the building I was in would come down. We rushed out. Everyone was out on the street, some of them panicking, with mothers screaming, looking for their children. There were four or five severe after-shocks and some buildings collapsed.

“Travelling later towards Kathmandu the roads were lined with people too scared to re-enter buildings, with heaps of rubble where some had structures had collapsed.

“Now the race is to get relief through to the worst hit areas – clothing and other essentials. There is a shortage of drivers, however, many of whom have returned to their homes to be with their families.”

Nick Guttmann, Christian Aid’s Head of Humanitarian had just arrived in the country to monitor the progress of Christian Aid’s initial relief efforts.

He was visiting a partner agency in Kathmandu before visiting a distribution point when a slight tremor ran through the building. Everyone stood up, and then everything began moving.

“Outside, the ground looked like it was rippling,” he said. “We didn’t know where to go and stayed under some corrugated iron.”

An hour after the earthquake, he said, “people were walking round the streets, not knowing what to do, I heard one woman ask ‘What is happening to Nepal’.”

Since the first earthquake struck, Christian Aid has worked through partner organisations in Nepal distributing blankets, tarpaulins, food, water purification equipment and water purification tablets to communities struggling to rebuild their lives.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, of which Christian Aid is a member, yesterday announced its appeal for Nepal earthquake victims had raised more than £50m. At the same time, Christian Aid’s own appeal for Nepal has raised more than £1.2million.

Notes:

1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in around 40 countries at any one time. We act where there is great need, regardless of religion, helping people to live a full life, free from poverty. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance in tackling the root causes of poverty as well as its effects.
2. Christian Aid’s core belief is that the world can and must be changed so that poverty is ended: this is what we stand for. Everything we do is about ending poverty and injustice: swiftly, effectively, sustainably. Our strategy document Partnership for Change www.christianaid.org.uk/images/partnership-for-change-summary.pdf explains how we set about this task.
3. Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development. Further details at http://actalliance.org

 

**************** Nepal’s second quake a double disaster says Oxfam

Cecilia Keizer, Oxfam’s country director in Nepal said: “This is a double disaster leaving many of the survivors of the first earthquake shocked and fearful of further tremors. Our teams in the quake areas reported that buildings collapsed and landslides have blocked the roads. They too were very shaken but immediately got back to work. Whilst we don’t yet know the full extent of this second major earthquake, we do know that the people of Nepal will need much more support to help them put their lives back together.

“It was already a race against time to reach people before the monsoon season arrives at the beginning of June. It’s now more vital than ever for us to be able to reach as many people as possible.”

Oxfam currently has over 100 staff and volunteers working in seven districts in the country on the humanitarian response and all are safe.

Oxfam is helping over 60,000 people over seven districts in Nepal, delivering clean water, emergency toilets, shelter, food assistance and hygiene kits. Reaching communities in the country’s rural districts has been challenging and initial reports suggest fresh landslides have cut off some areas.

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