Nepal Relief Update

 

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE AND ITS IMPACT: CALL FOR RELIEF MEASURES

 

A major catastrophe hit Nepal with a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on 25th April, 2015 killing thousands of lives and damaging buildings including historical landmarks. Even still the country is affected with about 150 aftershocks measuring 4.0 or more on Richter scale with the latest being on 12th May, 2015 with a magnitude of 7.3 near Kodari, Nepal. Minutes later, another 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal and the tremors were felt in Bangladesh, China, and many other states in India.

 

 
Rescue and Relief Work by EKAL 
                The biggest challenge for Nepal continues to be the disbursal of relief materials. In distant remote villages the aerial route is the only way to take relief materials to people, but it is also dependent on the weather conditions. EKAL volunteers are a beacon of hope when the going is tough. Volunteers of EKAL’s youth wing have contributed tremendously and were given an appreciation letter from the local authority for assisting in the relief work. The relief work by EKAL was entrusted to a team of volunteers who were given a control room in Kathmandu and camp offices in 10 districts. The work was conducted in 3 phases as follows:
I Phase: To reach all EKAL villages by any means of transport with food, water and medicines. Also it was required to survey the extent of damages and to assess the immediate requirement of the villages.
II Phase: To supply basic relief materials and provision of blankets, tarpaulins, clothes etc.
III Phase: To initiate re-building activities that was not undertaken then.

 

 
  • EKAL Pariwaar in Nepal with its nearly 2000 local work force was instrumental in taking the relief measures at the quickest time to the remote and far-flung areas. Being the natives of Nepal, they were more resourceful in taking the aid and relief measures to the affected areas.
  • EKAL volunteers made efforts to reach the farthest of the villages in Rasuwa- a district close to Tibet border where no aid or relief reaches in time.
  • Approximately 400 families in this district were benefited with relief materials including blankets, tarpaulins and foodstuffs. They profusely thanked the Ekal volunteers for saving their lives.
  • Keshavdham in Kathmandu managed by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates had incidentally became an acclaimed/accredited destination for receiving relief which was also recommended by Nepal government and agencies to the general public for help.
  • Essential items like rice, chiwra, blankets, salt, candles, bed sheets, molasses, water, theplas, moori, channa, torches, noodles, biscuits, atta were distributed to remote villages of worst-hit districts such as Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Kavre, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Gorkha and Sankhuwasabha.
  • Materials including tarpaulin sheets, basic food items and sleeping mats were distributed to more than 156 families in Jiling and to about 318 families in the Fatakaa-shila and Ichok villages of Sindhupalchok district. Nearly 9743 tarpaulin & 11500 blankets were donated by EVFI.
  • Medical camps were organized by various teams including National Medicos organization from India. Two medical teams with doctors from India rendered their service in Sindhupalchok and Bhaktapur districts.
  • Drinking water and sanitation were also taken care of. Necessary items like utensils and stationary items such as books and bags were also supplied.
  • Approximately 6000 people including tourists & pilgrims who were lost in the worst hit areas were connected to their families through help lines established by EKAL along with the local government.
  • Nearly 100 dead bodies were recovered from the debris and duly handed over to their families.
  • A bus carrying EKAL’S team of 8 doctors came to a halt due to a landslide. A pregnant lady undergoing labor pains was found nearby who was then operated inside the ambulance. The woman delivered a baby boy and the family members named the baby as “Bharat” as a token of appreciation to India’s help in the relief work.
  • Click on the link https://youtu.be/DKTaHV56cY4 to know more on the rebuilding efforts.

 

 
Further Requirements
Tents, clothes of all sizes, including woollens & jackets, plastic ropes, utensils, slippers, shoes and solar lamps are needed. Further, mattresses, life-saving medicines, food like biscuits, packets of namkeen ready to cook noodles, jerry cans and hygiene items including soap, water purification tablets to people who are particularly susceptible to water-borne illness such as diarrhoea are required. Grocery items like tea, sugar, rice, pulses, cooking oil and spices are also required.
 
URGENT MEDICINES & MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS REQD FOR APPROX. 15000 PEOPLE
List of medicines:
Tablet Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Metron tab plus syrup, tab Diologenag 75,cough syrup,Betadin, Decold tab,Ondasyp ,Sinex tab ,Cyclodon syp, Cipro drop, syp / tab Paracetamol  ,syp / tab Ibuprofen,Tegaderm, Betadineointment/fusidic acid/ Mupirocin,Diclofenac ointment, antibiotics,iv fruids,tab Sinarest,tab Paracetamol 50mg, Diclofinal soduim,tab Tramadol 50mg, tab Hifenal–p,tabOrnidafolie, Norfox,tabAmoxicillin (clavaunie acid),tab Citrine levo 10mg,tab Domperidone, Loperamide,tab Hetronidazole 400mg,Albendazolesyrup&tab,5% Betadine solution,Volini / Diclofenac gel,Scabies, oral rehydration solution.
List of injections:
Ofloxacin, Ojprofloxacin, Nornal saline,Dextrose 10%,25%, nx, rl, ons, Cefiriaxone, Metronitazole, Ampicillin  Cloxacillin, Cefotaxim, Ringer lactate
List of medical equipments/materials:
Disposable mask, disposable dressing set,bandage ,pop cast – 4″ 6″,cotton roll bandage,splint,iv cannula 20g, 24g, 22g, 26g, 18g,catheter 12f, 16fr, 8fr, handiplast/leukoplast,gloves sterile iv set, syringes 3ml,syringe 5ml,syringe 10ml, bp set (paediatric),scissors, bp set (adult),hand sanitizer, asepticsolution, saturation probe,tape,collon ,bandage, stills for internal and external fixation for fractures plates, dressing materials / dressing set, nails, rods,savlon solution,elasto bandage / crape bandage, bp apparatus-10,face masks, first aid kit 20,asthalin pomp, kmno4 / chlorine tablets, water purifiers.
 
Besides the above requirements, there is also an imminent need of orthopaedic surgeons to Nepal.
 

 

 
Dam

ages and Casualties
Some of the damages and casualties the earthquake had resulted in are enumerated below:
 

  • Earthquake has affected nearly 332 Ekal Villages in 8 districts such as a) Lumjung-16, b) Tanahun-28, c) Kavre-45, d) Nuwakot-60, e) Dhading-60, f) Rasuwa-15, g) Chitwan-45.
  • About 39 EKAL’s full time workers’ houses were also completely destroyed.
  • One of the EKAL’s fulltime workers who were in a teacher training session had his leg fractured when the earthquake hit and missed near death.
  • Five fulltime worker’s domestic animals also killed.
  • Buildings of historical, cultural & religious importance like Patan Durbar, Boddhastupa, Jai Baageshwari temple, Durbar High School, Chaangunarayan temple, Raanipokhri were completely destroyed.
  • < >Officials estimate death toll had increased to 8,413, and number of injured at 17,576. Several people are still missing.
  • As per Government’s estimates, more the 2,79,234 houses were destroyed & 2,37,068 houses were partially damaged. Out of the partially damaged buildings 50% are suitable for residing, 20-25% is unsuitable and the remaining needs to be renovated. As per early estimates, a total of 2,976 private houses, 176 government buildings and 88 archaeological structures were brought to ground by the devastating earthquake.
  • Documents and other valuables were lost too resulting in approximately Rs. 1.35 billion (Nepali currency).
  • Sindhupalchok is the worst hit district, with 3,360 deaths reported so far.
  • Nearly all the 200 inhabitants of the village of Langtang are presumed to have been perished. Click on the link http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32586946 to view the video.
  • Unicef has reported that nearly a million children in Nepal will not be able to return to school unless urgent action in terms of some make shift shelter schools are provided. Ekalis trying to address this urgent need.
  • UN estimates that some 1,26,000 pregnant women have been adversely affected by the earthquake.

Those interested in contribution and donation may kindly contact the undersigned.
 
Ravi Dev Gupta
Convener – Nepal Desk
General Secretary
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India
Tel: +91 11 40503331, Mob: +91 9818006185
 

Source: WHN Media Network