DEC agencies reaching quake affected people despite logistical challenges

Press release 30 April 2015

Food, water, relief supplies and shelter kits are beginning to reach remote villages affected by Saturday’s quake despite the huge logistical challenges facing the aid effort. 
 
The UK public has donated an extraordinary £26 million in the first 48 hours to the DEC Nepal Earthquake Appeal, which will help enable teams on the ground to reach people in desperate need of lifesaving aid. This is an increase of £7 million on the £19 million donated  in the first day of the appeal. 
 
An estimated 8 million people have been affected by Saturday’s earthquake across a remote area with poor infrastructure and a precarious road network. One third of the population were already living two or more hours walk from the nearest good road and following landslides and destruction, journeys that used to take four hours are now taking aid organisations one and a half days. 
 
DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: “Getting the huge amount of essential supplies needed to the hundreds of thousands of people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed quickly is a huge logistical challenge which is being hampered by the limited capacity of the one main airport and extremely difficult terrain in the areas affected.
 
“Experienced aid teams are working around the clock to get supplies in to the country and then to people who need it. For example agencies have already distributed shelter materials to camps in the Kathmandu Valley and 750 shelter kits will reach remote Dolarka tomorrow. Aid is getting though by any means possible, including by tractor in some cases.
 
“Fuel shortages, power cuts and communications black outs are all making the delivery of aid more challenging.”
 
The £26 million includes £5 million from the government through UK Aid Match.
 
To make a donation to the DEC Nepal Earthquake Appeal visit: http://www.dec.org.uk, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque. You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.
 

  • £25 can provide clean water for four families for one month 
  • £50 can feed a family for two weeks 
  • £100 can provide emergency shelter for five families

Aid delivered so far includes:

  • ActionAid relief teams have distributed non-perishable food items, and mats and tarpaulins to provide shelter for 500 people in Badikhel, Lalitpur District (south of Kathmandu).
  • Care International have distributed 332 family kits which include tarpaulins, sleeping mats, blankets, jerry cans and hygiene items such as soap.
  • Christian Aid has distributed 10 water filtration units – each of which can provide 1,500 litres of purified water per hour per unit. Teams have also distributed 5,000 tarpaulins for shelter (1,000 by air and 4,000 by road). Medical camps have also been set up in the Gorka district.
  • Oxfam is providing water and sanitation in four camps in the Kathmandu Valley. An 11,000-litre water tank has been installed and 20 pit toilets constructed. 45,000 litres of safe drinking water and tarpaulins for emergency shelter for 90 families have also been provided.
  • Save the Children has distributed 136 tarpaulins in the camps within the Kathmandu Valley. 180 baby packs, including baby clothes, socks, blankets, baby caps, flattened cloth, soap and undergarments.
  • World Vision emergency response teams have distributed 1,000 tarpaulins and 600 blankets in Bhaktapur. 

Notes to editors:

  • The DEC brings 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis: ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision; all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.
  • All DEC agencies will support the appeal and are responding in Nepal.
  • To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.  
  • Donations can be made at any high street bank and at post office counters. To donate £5 by text, send the word SUPPORT to 70000.  The full £5 will go to the DEC Nepal Earthquake Appeal. Donors must be 16 years or over and have bill payers permission. Texts are free and donations will be added to the bill.