Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Nepal

U.S. Relief and Recovery Targeting Most Affected Populations

Ambassador Peter W. Bodde welcomed the U.S. Disaster Assistance and Response Team (DART) to Nepal today, April 28. The team is deployed to assist with relief and recovery efforts in coordination with the Nepal Government, the international community, and relief agencies, after the April 25 earthquake. U.S. Government on-the-ground emergency relief and recovery will comprise of nearly 130 members, also including Urban Search and Rescue Teams from Fairfax and Los Angeles Counties, along with 45 square tons of cargo.

The U.S. Government is providing $10 million in humanitarian assistance to relief agencies operational on the ground, deploying funds to address immediate humanitarian needs in affected districts across Nepal. USAID is conducting a variety of other disaster risk reduction activities, including:

Earthquake Management Information and Assessments: USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance’s partner organization, National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET), is providing critical earthquake management information through various media outlets. NSET’s intensity and inundation mapping tools with population data overlays will provide critical information for the recovery and humanitarian efforts underway. In addition, NSET is responding to the Government of Nepal’s (GON) request for infrastructure assessments and has already completed a number of assessments focused on roads, electricity sub-stations, and hospitals.

Non-food Relief Items: USAID/OFDA’s partner organization, the Nepal Red Cross Society, is currently distributing USAID/OFDA prepositioned Non-food Relief Items (NFRIs) to 3,000 families in earthquake-affected districts – Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Sindhupalchowk, Syangja, and Rasuwa. The NFRIs include items such as blankets, clothes, kitchen utensils, buckets, and ropes. Supplies are also reaching the 16 internally displaced person (IDP) camps that have been set up in the Kathmandu valley.

USAID’s Suaahara Project: The USAID Integrated Health and Nutrition Project or Suaahara, operating in six of the 11 most affected districts – Lamjung, Dolakha, Gorkha, Rasuwa, Sinhupalchok, and Nuwakot – is participating in district-level disaster response meetings and providing support accordingly. To date they have met district level requests for water, ready to eat foods, tents, blankets, and basic medical supplies.

USAID’s Hariyo Ban Project: Operating in four of the 11 most affected districts – Lamjung, Gorkha, Rasuwa, and Dhading – Hariyo Ban is participating in district-level disaster response meetings and planning to provide $50,000 worth of immediate rescue and relief items that may include: tents/tarpaulins, water, food, medications, and feminine products.

The best way to help those affected is to make a monetary donation to a reputable humanitarian organization working in the disaster zone. Non-governmental organizations listed here have issued appeals for donations: http://www.usaid.gov/nepal-earthquake