On 12th May at 12:50 local time (UTC+5:45), another devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred in Nepal, 83 km northeast of the capital Kathmandu. Good Neighbors International (GNI), in spite of severe aftershocks, is actively distributing emergency relief kits, providing medical services, and conducting psychosocial support programs for children.
GNI was one of the first to provide relief supplies to the victims in Gorkha district, the epicenter of the first major earthquake. Since 28th April, it has distributed relief kits containing tarpaulins, blankets, and emergency foods to more than 41,000 people in 5 mountainous villages in Gorkha (Phinam, AaruArbang, Thumi, Lapu, and Manbu), and 2 other villages in Kathmandu and Lalitpur district (as of 19th May 12:00).
Medical relief teams are running mobile clinics in order to ensure that no one would be neglected, especially in remote areas where organizations are struggling to get access to. With mobile clinics, GNI provided medical treatments to over 840 people.
GNI dispatched professionals in order to provide psychosocial support programs to children and residents of Gorkha district. Group activities are currently underway in two established Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) and almost 2,000 children participated. In psychosocial support programs, children express their own psychological states through writing or drawing and do physical activities. GNI plans to establish 10 more CFS in the future.
GNI has been working in Nepal since 1998, and currently works in 18 different communities throughout the country. GNI provided educational support, medical support, and conducted other income generation projects. After the earthquake, GNI has long-term plans to reconstruct schools and public health centers in Gorkha district where 90% of education and local health facilities were demolished. Above all other plans, it is preparing for Temporary Learning Center (TLC) where children can study.
GNI is an international humanitarian and development organization. It has made great strides in its mission by providing people around the world with a better quality of life since its establishment in Korea, 1991. GNI was granted General Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC in 1996 and acknowledged its contribution and granted the “MDGs Award’ in 2007.