Nepal: Fast mobilization of our teams
28 April 2015 - Terre des Hommes has been mobilizing its teams in Nepal immediately after the earthquake. Together with our Nepalese NGO partners, we are providing immediate relief to the population, first aid kits and non-food items, water, hygienic kits, health care and immediate measures of child protection. In the meanwhile, we operate initial assessment and coordinate our actions with others humanitarian agencies.
Additional TDH teams from India and our humanitarian specialists from headquarters have been mobilized to reach Nepal as quick as possible and support our operations. Our operations concentrate in Katmandu and rural surroundings. Coordination with local authorities and with other humanitarian actors is a high priority for TDH to ensure efficiency in such urgency context.
Terre des Hommes organisations in Europe have made several donations appeals for what is going to be a long recovery for the affected population in the next months.
Donations and information on the situation and Terre des Hommes operations in Nepal can be made through the following TDH organisations:
• Terre des Hommes Foundation Lausanne (Switzerland)
• Terre des Hommes Netherlands
Updates from the field: children in extreme vulnerable situation
The situation of children survivors is expected to be extremely critical. Terre des Hommes will have a special attention for children and mothers’ protection measures, health and post-trauma psychological care.
According to the last situation report issued by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (27 April 2015):
•As of 27 April, the Government reports 3,351 deaths and 6,833 injured people. International Media reported more than 4,000 deaths on the same day.
•8 million people in 39 districts have been affected, of which over 2 million people live in the 11 severely affected districts.
•Priority needs include food, water, shelter and medication. Over 1.4 million people are in need of food assistance.
•A Humanitarian Staging Area (HSA) in Kathmandu International Airport has been set-up to mitigate congestion at Kathmandu Airport.
TDH works in Nepal since more than 30 years
Terre des Hommes has operated in Nepal since more than 30 years. We have a deep knowledge of the country and strong longstanding partnership with Nepalese partner organizations. Damages are huge and extensive. We know that access to rural areas will be very difficult. Surviving Children will be deeply affected in many ways: physical injuries, mental traumas, parental loss, separated from families, affected communities.
Over the passing hours, the disaster is confirming the expected “nightmare scenario” aid workers and government officials have long feared: a massive earthquake striking Nepal’s densely populated Kathmandu Valley, with thousands feared dead. In terms of per capita earthquake casualty risk, the valley is known locally as being the most dangerous place in the world.