Nepal Earthquakes: your questions answered
What are the needs?
The two earthquakes have had a catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of people. Even before the earthquakes 25% of the population of Nepal were living in extreme poverty, and today many have lost their homes, their possessions and their means of making a living. They urgently need food, emergency shelter, support in rebuilding their homes and essential household goods – like blankets, clothes, pots, pans and cooking equipment – to replace those that have been lost. After a disaster on this scale, there is a major risk of disease spreading. People need clean water, sanitation and support with managing hygiene. Many remote villages are likely to be cut off by the monsoon rains, so there is a very short window of opportunity to deliver aid to those who need it
How is CAFOD responding?
Our partners began delivering aid within hours of the first earthquake, and we are continuing to work around the clock to provide life-saving support to home- less and injured families. Alongside our partners in the Caritas coalition of Catholic aid agencies, we have so far provided food, shelter kits and emergency sup- plies to more than 38,000 people. Together we aim to reach 175,000 people in the first eight weeks of the response.
We are delivering aid in seven of the worst-hit districts districts – Gorkha, Okhaldunga, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchok, Nuwakot, Lamjung and Dhading – as well as to people who lost everything in Kathmandu.
Our work is possible because of the generosity of Catholics in England and Wales, who have so far donated more than £1.3 million to our Nepal Earthquake appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) – a coalition of leading aid agencies, of which CAFOD is a part – has also launched a joint appeal that has raised more than £50 million.