Field report (1:00 pm ET)
CURRENT PROJECTS
•Our physical therapists in Kathmandu and Bidur / Trisuli hospitals are taking care of the people injured in the 7.3 aftershock on May 12, in addition to the injured people they have been caring for since the April 25 disaster.
•Teams began distributing 1,500 emergency kits. These kits include high quality tents, which can provide families with decent emergency housing in times of heavy rains. This is important given that the rainy season begins in the next few weeks.
•In addition to Handicap International’s oversight of one of the two humanitarian aid storage centers in Kathmandu—in partnership with the World Food Programme—we are discussing the extent to which Handicap International will participate in the transportation of this humanitarian aid outside of Kathmandu and into the most isolated areas. This transportation will require heavy trucks, light vehicles and probably porters to carry the aid where no vehicle can reach. These operations could take place in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts.
IN THE WORKS...
•Logistical capacity reinforcement: There are numerous logistical challenges to overcome. Some of the most affected populations are located in remote and scattered areas, the road network is limited and now also damaged from earthquakes, and the most affected districts are mountainous.
•Mobile teams: Once deployed, these teams will keep track of the people who leave the hospitals, and will soon try to go back to their homes. Following these people and assisting them throughout their recovery is essential to avoid the development of permanent disabilities that can appear after a period of immobilization, a surgery, or after sustaining injuries that did not receive the sufficient follow-up care. These teams will also work on the identification of people who have not yet been assisted and provide them with any care they need—both in terms of rehabilitation and basic needs.
•Psychosocial care: The earthquakes are causing a lot of stress for the people living in Nepal. Handicap International will set up psychosocial care activities targeting people who have been injured. These activities will also benefit those people who are at risk of developing psychological distress because of the earthquakes, as well as degraded living conditions caused by the loss of a house, or a major disruption of family and social structures.