Yesterday another massive earthquake hit Nepal, this time with the epicentre in the Everest region. Our partner charity Community Action Nepal is feeding back information on what is happening in the communities with which we work. You can read more here: http://www.canepal.org.uk/. Regular supporters will know that PPUK runs a clothing bank in Lukla; at the moment we do not yet know the status of all of our colleagues and our thoughts are with them.
The villages affected by both earthquakes are remote and efforts are underway to reach the victims with medical aid, food, water and shelter. Daily updates are available from the humanitarian co-ordinators in Kathmandu at: http://reliefweb.int/organization/un-rchc-nepal.
A huge humanitarian effort has now built up involving the UN, large aid organisations like Oxfam and Save the Children and many others. However, Nepal is a very difficult place in which to provide aid, with one limited international airport at Kathmandu and then the challenge of reaching the hundreds of remote villages, most of which are accessible only on foot with little or no telecommunications. The focus at the moment is on getting the basics of shelter, food, water and sanitation and medical services to people, and there a constant fear of new quakes and aftershocks. Funding and resources are currently insufficient to meet Nepal’s needs, and significantly more support is required.
We already know that many of the areas in which we and our partner charities operate have been severely damaged by the first earthquake. These include the Gorkha, Langtang, Kathmandu, Sindupalchowk and Helambu districts as well as the Solukhumbu. Sadly there are more reports coming in today.
Your help – now and in the future
PPUK, IPPG and CAN and would like to thank all of our supporters for the donations we have received in the immediate aftermath of the first earthquake. Collectively we now have people on the ground helping put those emergency funds to good use: supplying food; offering medical equipment; enabling transportation; and delivering shelter. This is part of the wider response to the immediate challenges facing Nepal.
We will also have an important role to play in the reconstruction because of our long history in Nepal and contacts amongst the people there. We will be asking for your support in the coming months and years to help Nepal help itself. Please keep following us on our website and Facebook page.
PPUK and IPPG have always believed that empowerment is the key to making lasting change, and so with your help we will work to provide the Nepalese with the support and the tools they need to rebuild their shattered lives. If you would like to make a donation you can do so at the bottom of this email.
Please, help us support the people of Nepal.
Mary Morrell Nick Mason
Porters Progress UK IPPG(UK)
portersprogressuk.org