Kathmandu, NEPAL (April 28, 2015) — International aid agency CARE plans to distribute emergency shelter and hygiene kits this week to nearly 2,500 vulnerable people impacted by the earthquake in Nepal. Distribution of 250 kits are planned Wednesday in Gorkha, a rural area near the epicenter where it’s estimated that up to 80 percent of the homes are damaged.
The official death toll from the earthquake has now reached 4,200 people, and over 6,000 injured. These numbers are expected to increase as rescue teams reach remote areas, but access is a challenge in these mountainous areas.
“It’s urgent that we reach these remote areas outside Kathmandu where we’ve heard reports of extensive damage, but access is a huge challenge in these mountainous regions. Some villages have been completely flattened by the quake, and people are in desperate need of basic survival items,” said Lex Kassenberg, CARE Country Director in Nepal. “People have either lost their homes or are staying outside in fear of aftershocks. It can be cold and rainy in these areas, so temporary shelter is a vital need, especially for women and children.”
The emergency kits being distributed include tarps, mattresses and blankets for shelter. Hygiene kits will also be distributed that include some items specific for women like diapers for their babies and sanitary napkins, as well as, soap, toothbrushes and towels. Additional supplies of food, mattresses, water purifier, tarps and soap are also being distributed to 5000 people in Kathmandu later in the week.
CARE plans to reach 100,000 people with life-saving relief aid such as emergency shelter, clean water and food with a focus on the most vulnerable, such as women and girls, in the remote areas outside Kathmandu towards Pokara.
The organization has launched an appeal of $40 million to provide emergency relief and long-term recovery. It takes $75 to provide 15-days’ worth of food for an individual and $200 to provide a family with emergency shelter. Donations can be made here.
CARE has worked in Nepal since 1978, in areas including food Security, HIV/AIDS, health, education, water and sanitation, and the empowerment of women and girls. The organization responded to massive landslides in Nepal’s Sindhupalchowk district and floods in the mid-west of the country in August 2014, and works in 33 of 75 Nepal’s districts. CARE is familiar with the regions affected by the earthquake and implements projects in the western and central region.
Media Contacts
Holly Frew +1.770.842.6188 hfrew@care.org or Nicole Harris +1.404.735.0871 nharris@care.org
About CARE
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has more than six decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. CARE places special focus on women and children, who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. To learn more, visit www.care.org.