Currently, our teams are in areas outside of the capital identifying needs, setting priorities, and locating the most isolated populations that have not received any aid since Saturday. These populations are difficult to reach as the telephone networks are down, making communication even more difficult. Along with communication issues, the isolation of certain areas are the reason why the death toll keeps rising as further information is gathered. Sadly these numbers will continue to rise.
The first step is the needs assessment: it is a very important step to establish priorities and provide assistance to those who need it first. Evaluating means visiting the areas, accessing villages to see the situation with your own eyes, but also exchanging with the village leaders. This type of data is crucial: it informs ACTED’s operational response, and it is then shared with all actors in the field, other NGOs, international organizations, and local organizations as well as with Nepalese authorities. The objective is to avoid duplication of aid in certain areas and to fill the gaps in other areas.
Based on our assessments, we launch the first operations and distributions, which can then be organized in a systematic manner; it is important not to forget anyone, and ensure that the most vulnerable are given priority assistance, especially women, children and disabled people. In parallel, evaluations are carried out and operations and logistics are set up . For the sake of efficiency, we do send equipment from France, but we use resources and equipment already on site. In fact, Nepal has been preparing to face this kind of disaster over the past 10 years by working with international organizations: basic survival items and contingency stocks (food rations, medicine, and water) had already been prepared in the country.
ACTED can access these stocks which are then distributed by our teams directly to affected people. Our teams will work alongside local people and organizations, but also in connection with international organizations (such as the Canadian NGO CECI and European NGO Alliance2015) to share resources and logistical support.