NEPAL EARTHQUAKE UPDATE 30thMay 15
Dear All,
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the WMT earthquake appeal. I am pleased to
report that, so far, we have raised almost £8000 which is on its way to our projects in Nepal.
Nepal is still experiencing aftershocks almost on a daily basis. Tanya Carver, aunt of trustee, Dan,
was in Pokhara when the earthquakes hit and has been helping with the relief effort. She returned
to UK end of May and met us at our fund-raising event in Oakham. Tanya described experiencing
the major earthquake of 25th April – the feeling of the earth moving for what seemed ages; the
screams of frightened people then the sense of relief when the ground was still again. The citizens
of Pokhara thought that was the end; a scary destructive earthquake but they had survived. (Pokhara
was less damaged than Kathmandu and there were no fatalities). But each day, the tremors kept on
coming and the people became more and more frightened and stressed. The almost daily earth
shaking and the fear of falling buildings have taken its toll on the mental health of local population.
Tanya said people are so frightened, scared of going inside a building or walking past a tall building
for fear of it collapsing on them and the mental stress is tipping some Nepalis into breakdowns. She
also commented how people are working together in the relief effort and how Pokhara was well
organised in getting emergency aid to Gorka, the epicentre of the first earthquake.
ECCA (WMT-ECCA programme has been involved with schools in Southern Lalitpur for 22 years)
Southern Lalitpur is one of the worst hit areas of Nepal; it is a mountainous region south of
Kathmandu with few roads or infrastructure. The ECCA teams have been working in Southern
Lalitpur along with other agencies such as the Swiss Humanitarian Agency (SHA). In many
villages, 99% of homes have been destroyed or severely damaged and people have lost all their
belongings including food, household items, bedding and the children's school materials. SHA has
been distributing corrugated GI sheets for temporary shelters in Dalchowki, Malta, Ikudol, Shanku
and Bhattidanda (villages WMT knows well). ECCA volunteers have been helping in the
construction of these shelters and also in the distribution of chlorine solution, WATASOL, for
drinking water purification. Schools are due to re-open on 31st May. Many schools have been
badly damaged so temporary shelters/tarpaulins will be needed. ECCA is hoping to support the
children to return to school; just the routine of school will help in relieving the stress of the
earthquakes and also give the parents time to rebuild their homes and attend to their land. Subject
to sufficient funding, ECCA is hoping to provide all children with stationery (notebooks, pens etc),
free school lunches for a month and counselling. For more information on the work of ECCA all
over Nepal, please visit ecca.org.np
CBRS (CBRS, based in Pokhara, works with and for disabled children and young people in Western Nepal)
The Western region of Nepal has not been overall so devastated by the earthquake but there are
districts, such as Tanahun, where damage has been substantial. CBRS project manager, Krishna,
and his team have been visiting clients and their families to assess their needs. About 50 homes
have been damaged; some destroyed. Emergency tents have been supplied but these are not
adequate for the monsoon rains which have now started. The Nepalese Government is planning to
distribute 15,000 tin roofs throughout Nepal but with half a million homes destroyed and another
quarter million severely damaged, there will be many people missing out on this support. Western
Nepal is not a priority region. CBRS is using WMT's earthquake money to provide building
materials and, where needed, cooking pots, bedding, rice and dhal (lentils, the staple food).
SRC and Aparna (Aparna runs health and dental camps in poor rural areas of Sindhupalchowk)
Sindhupalchowk is another one of the worst hit areas of Nepal. It is north east of Kathmandu and
the district extends up to the Langtang Himal. Many villages and towns have been wiped out and
3,600 people in this district have died. Aparna has project areas in Sindhupalchowk with her main
clinic building in the village of Bhotechaur. The clinic and most of the village has been destroyed.
Aparna is running clinics from tents and has used money donated by WMT to buy food, medicines,
blankets and mosquito nets for those left homeless.
Village Leather Training Association (VLTA works with Sarkis to produce traditional leather goods)
The Sarkis or leatherworkers are low caste people or untouchables (Dalits) who traditionally tan
leather from dead cattle or buffalos and make leather goods. VLTA has been working with these
people to give them a business opportunity by making bags appealing to Western markets. This had
helped improve the living standards of many Sarki living in Sindhupalchowk - until the
earthquakes. The original VLTA village of Sindukot has been devastated by the earthquakes. As
well as destruction of the houses with the loss of all stored food, cooking pots, clothes and bedding,
the tanning and lime pits have been destroyed as well as sewing machines and leather working
tools. Our friend and VLTA contact person, Bal Krishna, has visited Sindukot and reports that 85
homes of the Dalit community have been completely destroyed. The Dalits are often the last to
receive aid distributed by local government officials and many families are living outside with little
shelter – and the rains have started. Some have received small amounts of rice and noodles from
other organisations but this inadequate diet is harming the health of the people especially the
children. Bal Krishna's organisation, Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal, is trying to raise money to provide
food, clothing, medicine and building materials to these people. Funds will also be needed to
replace the tanning and lime pits, sewing machines, leather working tools and patterns for bags so
the Sarki can restart their businesses.
Roshna and Shanti
Roshna has been in touch with us to say that they are both safe but very frightened by the continual
earth tremors. Roshna is waiting for her final year exam results of her Public Health course.
Shanti's hospital appointment for her gall bladder operation scheduled just before the earthquake
has been postponed. Nepali hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients injured in the
earthquakes and many are being treated outside in tents or make-shift shelters.
The need in Nepal is great and on-going and WMT is committed to continue to fund raise to help
the victims of the earthquake. If you are able to help by organising fund raising events, that would
be wonderful. Please e-mail us on melanie.wmt@btconnect.com or by post to our registered
address: 57 Forest Edge, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5AE. WMT has minimal overheads, as we are all
volunteers; all our money goes directly to our registered partner organisations in Nepal to directly
help those in need.
Thank you,
Sarah and all WMT trustees
www.wmt.org.uk