The Australian Government has airlifted 1,000 shelter tool kits from UNHRD in Malaysia today, bringing much-needed gear to help Nepalese families rebuild their homes after the devastating earthquake. Also onboard and generously transported by Australia were two forklifts that the World Food Programme (WFP) will use to help manage supplies for the humanitarian community, as they race against the clock to deliver relief assistance before the start of the monsoon rains.
The kits are part of the Australian Government’s $20 million assistance to support the people of Nepal, which includes providing humanitarian supplies for up to 10,000 people.
Since the first earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April, the UNHRD depots in Dubai, Malaysia and Panama have been working in overdrive to dispatch life-saving supplies and support partner response efforts. Over 645 MT (worth US$3.9 million) of critical medical, shelter, water/sanitation items and support equipment have been sent to Nepal from the three depots on behalf of 20 partners.
Four members of UNHRD’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) were deployed to Nepal immediately after the earthquake and are currently supporting cargo receipt at Kathmandu’s international airport, as well as helping construct storage and hospital facilities.