The Needs Are Great In Nepal

LWF Nepal project coordinator Nibha Shresta hands out blankets to earthquake survivors in Ghuse. Photo: ACT/LWF/C. Kästner

The earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 devastated a region from Kathmandu to Mount Everest, killing over 7000, damaging or destroying 700,000 houses, and destroying roads so that some remote districts are still only accessible by helicopter.

PWRDF has been responding to the needs of those affected by the earthquake through the ACT Alliance, a global alliance of 140 church-based agencies engaged in relief, development and advocacy work.  Through the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), another ACT member, PWRDF has helped to provide food, blankets, and tarpaulins to 820 families in the hardest hit areas of the Kathmandu valley.

Volunteers are helping to pack up relief goods – 2kg of rice, six packages of ready-to-eat noodles, two packages of biscuits, a tarpaulin and a blanket- for distribution to families in need.

According to LWF, “Lack of shelter remains the biggest challenge.  The need for tarpaulins by far exceeds the number given out.”  With over 900,000 people still sleeping outside, this need is clear.

LWF and other ACT members are assessing the needs in the region, working closely with the Nepalese government to coordinate their relief efforts.  “We have started by working in government-managed camps,” said LWRDF emergency team coordinator Gopal Dahal, “but as we saw a great need for assistance in self-managed camps, we have also started to cover these camps and the affected population.”

Your help is needed to supply tarpaulins, blankets, food and other relief supplies, and to begin the rebuilding process in Nepal.

All donations to PWRDF between April 25 and May 25, 2015 for the Nepal earthquake relief efforts will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the Government of Canada into their Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, which will be used to provide humanitarian relief in the wake of this catastrophe.

~ by Simon Chambers
posted May 4, 2015 on the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund Website

To donate:
You can mark your offering envelopes Nepal earthquake relief or go to the PWRDF site to learn how you can donate directly.