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Nepal

Three months of action since the Nepal Quake

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

Handicap International, working in Nepal for 15 years, intervened immediately in aid of the earthquake’s victims, drawing on its extensive experience case-managing earthquake victims in previous disasters, such as Haiti in 2010.

For the past three months, Handicap International’s team of physical therapists have provided care to more than 1,500 victims in 11 hospitals in Kathmandu Valley, in hospitals in the district of Nuwakot (Bidur/Trisuli) and Sindhupalchok, and communities in seven districts[1].

Teams provided post-traumatic care for head injuries and open wounds, conducted more than 5,900 rehabilitation sessions, and distributed more than 970 mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, crutches, walking frames and splints.

To help victims overcome their trauma, our teams also provide one-on-one or group psychosocial support, and social workers direct these individuals to other operators if they have other specific needs.

“The patients we care for are getting better,” explains Prakash Niraula, one of Handicap International’s physical therapists in Nepal. “Our priority is to provide support to everyone who needs it. That’s why we have set up permanent community points, particularly in the district of Nuwakot. We conduct rehabilitation and psychosocial sessions there and closely monitor our patients. Each week, we also visit people living in more remote parts of the district. And every day we identify around ten new people who need rehabilitation.”

EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOST DEPRIVED

The earthquake destroyed more than 160,000 homes[2] and damaged another 143,000. To help these families who have lost almost everything, Handicap International distributed[3] more than 4,300 kits containing essential items (tents, cooking kits, hygiene kits and blankets) and bundles of CGI sheets[4] (roofing material) to more than 2,200 families[5] in the districts Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Kathmandu.

LOGISTICS PLATFORM

Since May 12, Handicap International has been managing one of two humanitarian aid storage centers in Kathmandu to help transport humanitarian aid to village and community distribution points. A storage area has also been set up in the district of Nuwakot district (Bidur) and Rasuwa district (Dhunche). Handicap International has also begun transporting humanitarian aid to various distribution points in villages and communities. These storage and transportation operations facilitate the work of all other NGOs working in Nepal.

ACCESSIBLE SERVICES FOR ALL

Handicap International has set up a hotline that anyone can call to benefit from its services. In addition, Handicap International’s Inclusion Technical Unit is working with all humanitarian operators to promote the inclusion of vulnerable people. The organization takes part in coordination forums and working groups and helps ensure the needs of all vulnerable people are taken into account in the services provided by humanitarian operators.

CONTINUING NEEDS

Three months after the earthquake, Handicap International’s team, comprising 19 expatriate staff members and more than 100 Nepalese staff, are still providing support to victims. They continue to provide rehabilitation care, identify new patients in need of specific or psychosocial care every day, and help ensure the most vulnerable people are better taken into account in the services provided by other humanitarian aid operators.

Handicap International is now preparing to launch its post-emergency actions, which will help provide people affected by the earthquake—more than 2.8 million—with long-term support and the chance to live a normal life again.

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