A devastating earthquake hit Nepal on Saturday, the 25th of April. A second quake came 17 days after the first one. Eight million people are directly affected. 1.4 million Nepalese people now depend on food aid. Cordaid and local partners (including Caritas) provide aid. We continue to receive information from them. Stay informed:
On the 19th of June, it was announced that 24.5 million euros has been raised with the Dutch national campaign for the victims of the earthquake.
On June 18th, Cordaid started distributing paddy seeds in the villages Lahrepauwa and Daibung. The local population can grow rice with these seeds. 350 households received the seeds. Farmers with paddy land lost their seeds in the rubble after the earthquake. Now they can plant rice again on the rice terasses. The people were greatful for the timely distribution; farmers can now plant the seeds in time, before the monsoon rain starts.
On the 4th of June, Cordaid started distributing 49 tents to 25 schools, shortly after the schools in Nepal re-opened. The tents are big enough to accommodate a classroom.
26 May: The Dutch national campaign to raise money for the victims was scaled up up after the second earthquake and already raised over 23 million euros. Cordaid is one of the organizers. 12 May: A second earthquake hit Nepal, 7.3 on the Richter Scale. According to early reports, 34 have died and 1.066 people are injured. Albert de Haan, leader of the Cordaid aid team: "we could barely walk, the earth was trembling too hard."
Cordaid's Maarten van den Berg has traveled from Kathmandu accross the disaster area with a Cordaid emergency assessment team. Photographs from Cordaid's Maarten van den Berg from Nepal:
8 May: Maarten van den Berg blogs for Cordaid about a horrifying story he heard about while on the road in Nepal; a tragic wedding day.
5 May: Maarten van den Berg: Cordaid is considering working with the inhabitants of Sipapokhare. Starting with the distribution of emergency supplies such as tarpaulins, roof plates and food - but also helping with rebuilding the school, health center and the houses of the local people.
From 3 May onwards: Cordaid is going to distribute shelter kits and food supplies for 2500 families in the Gorkha district. The kits and supplies will be distributed as soon as possible by Cordaid's Indian partner PGVS. This was a request from the Nepalese government
On May 3rd, Cordaid distributed tarpaulins to the people of the rural area Favre. > One of the victims calls her tarpaulin a 'godsent'.
2 May: Maarten van den Berg travels to Nepal for Cordaid. He accompanies a emergency assessment team. In this emergency phase, Cordaid sets up temporary housing with Caritas and CRS for 8,000 affected families (40,000 people) in the most affected districts.
2 May: The electricity network in Nepal is severely damaged by the earthquake. Emergency generators are also not working anymore. Cordaid coordinates the distribution of solar lamps and chargers through Caritas Nepal. They are being sent to Nepal from the Netherlands. Emergency aid workers also use them, to be able to retain open lines of communication.
We also finance and distribute safe drinking water and sanitary kits, of which there is a great need in the disaster area.
Cordaid’s partners are now not only providing emergency aid in the capital Kathmandu, but also in the districts Kavre, Gorhka and Sangachowk, close to the epicenter of the earthquake
Providing emergency aid is difficult because the main roads are blocked and most communication networks are down. Cordaid is everywhere already, through Caritas and we can reach many people with motorcycles and other means of transport.
International aid workers are now trying to reach the most remote areas of Nepal. Cordaid can rely on a network of thousands of local volunteers. Paul Borsboom, emergency aid coordinator: “Keep in mind that during every disaster, 95% of the humanitarian work is done by the local population itself, by people who are directly affected, people who move heaven and earth to help their family, friends and co-victims. Caritas is an excellent network and connected to those people."
Caritas, Cordaid's main partner, has been active in Nepal since 1990 and has since established itself in the farthest corners of the country. Borsboom: "Caritas Nepal is in 50 of the 75 districts, including all areas that have now been affected by the quake.”
“At first we thought it was the wind, then everything was shaking and my brother shouted it was an earthquake. > Read stories from survivors here
[Read more about how Cordaid helps.:(https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/more-aid-underway-nepal/)
As more and more people are found and the remote areas are reached, the number of victims keeps going up. The latest numbers from the disaster area come in from: UNOCHA.
The devastating earthquake in Nepal affects millions of people. There are thousands of casualties and many more are injured. There is an urgent need for food, water, shelter and medical care. Help us now with a gift! Donate now to Giro555.
The effects of the earthquake in pictures (live updates).
Follow the latest developments on the impact of the disaster: #NepalEarthquake Tweets
At the beginning of June, Cordaid started distributing 49 tents to 25 schools, shortly after the schools in Nepal re-opened. The tents are big enough to accommodate a classroom.