Sunday, 26 April – Singaporean humanitarian NGO, Mercy Relief (MR) will deploy a 2-man preliminary disaster response team to Kathmandu, Nepal, to ascertain ground needs and procure initial batch of relief supplies. MR will dedicate an initial tranche of SG$60,000 to acute relief efforts.
On Saturday 25 April 2015, an earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude with a 15km depth struck in Lamjung, Gorkha district 81km northeast of Kathmandu at 1156 hrs. At least 18 aftershocks have since been recorded. 2,000 deaths have been confirmed and the number of injured stands at 4,718 (at time of release). The government of Nepal has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international humanitarian assistance.
Mercy Relief’s focus will be to address the pressing needs for shelter, medicine, food, water and hygiene kits.
Explaining Mercy Relief’s upcoming operation for the mission, Chairman Michael Tay says “From experience, we are directing our acute relief efforts at shoring up the supply and distribution of shelter, food and water for the survivors”. He further adds “Mercy Relief’s rapid response team will have boots on the ground on Monday where a more comprehensive assessment of the needs of the affected communities will determine how we can most effectively assist with their immediate recovery.”
Mercy Relief will also launch an urgent appeal for donations nationwide for the victims of the quake beginning 27 April 2015.
The public can contribute through the following donation modes or by initiating their own donation drives to support Mercy Relief’s fundraising efforts for the victims of Nepal Earthquake 2015.
About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which implements both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes for the distressed, disadvantaged and destitute in Asia. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity in response to the human tragedies in the region. Mercy Relief also aims to promote a civic life of compassion, care and volunteerism. Its aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has continuously maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance. To date, Mercy Relief has disbursed about S$32.5 million in funds spread across 39 disaster relief and 53 sustainable development initiatives.
Mercy Relief’s humanitarian action is guided by the four general principles of engagement - uphold humanity, exercise impartiality, maintain neutrality and respect sovereignty. In the past 11 years, Mercy Relief has impacted an aggregate of 2 million lives in 23 countries and areas, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.
For more information, you may reach:
Ms. A.H. Sharm
Manager
Corporate Affairs
Mobile: (65) 8282 0272, Office: +65 6514 6322
Email: sharm@mercyrelief.org or corporateaffairs@mercyrelief.org