Statement by Mona Sherpa, CARE Nepal’s Country Director
November 4, 2023 – “On November 3, 2023, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot and Rukum Districts of Karnali Province in Nepal, causing widespread damage. Initial reports indicate 150 casualties and several hundred injured, with the numbers expected to rise. CARE Nepal is actively coordinating with local partners, government authorities and other Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) partners to assess the needs of those affected and provide immediate relief.
Winter has set in, and many houses in the affected areas have been damaged, leaving survivors in need of blankets, warm clothes, tents, protection and psychosocial needs. CARE Nepal has already dispatched a first round of support relief supplies including blankets, shelter kits, dignity kits, and kitchen utensils, which will benefit 250 households. We are also planning to distribute relief supplies to the most vulnerable, with specific focus on women, girls and people with disabilities.
CARE Nepal is working closely with other stakeholders to monitor and assess the developing situation and provide coordinated support. The affected population will need sustained, long-term support in the days ahead, such as reconstruction of houses, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, food, agriculture, livelihood, protection, and sexual and reproductive health services. We therefore urge our partners and donors to support both immediate and long-term response efforts.”
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Note to editors:
- Jajarkot is one of CARE Nepal working districts, where we run programs in health, education, and social norms change, including the establishment of birthing centers and support to schools on campaigns against child, early, and forced marriage.
- CARE Nepal started its operations in 1978 and works to address systemic and structural causes of poverty and social injustice such as discrimination based on gender, caste, class, ethnicity or geography. CARE supports humanitarian actions to address vulnerabilities from climate change and natural disasters. CARE works with marginalized women and adolescent girls to ensure their empowerment, wellbeing and dignity through social transformation and access to quality social and economic services.
For more information, please visit: www.carenepal.org
For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarita Suwannarat
Sarita.Suwannarat@care.org
Based in Bangkok, Thailand
Anisa Husain
Anisa.Husain@care.org
Based in the USA