Nepal one year on: Challenge and Recovery

Friday, April 22, 2016

Humanitarian agency World Vision has urged Australians not to forget the people of Nepal in the lead up to the one-year anniversary of the devastating April 25, 2015, earthquake in which more than 8000 people died.

In a message to Australians who have supported the Nepalese people over the past year, World Vision Nepal national director Liz Satow, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to people in Australia who have supported World Vision for Nepal’s earthquake response.

“Because of you, we were able to help hundreds of thousands of people in the earthquake-affected districts. Because of you, children have access to water, to schools, to shelter and to health. We could not do this without you, so thank you.”

But with the cost of rebuilding Nepal set to run into the billions of dollars, she urged Australians to continue to give generously. “Imagine that your world was destroyed,” she said. “Your houses are flattened, the schools are destroyed, your clinics and health posts are destroyed. That was the scene one year ago. While the images may no longer be on TV, the needs in our communities remain very high.”

Jennifer MacCann, World Vision’s Nepal Earthquake Response director, said that over the past year World Vision’s work had transitioned from emergency relief to repair and reconstruction and said, “Moving forward, we strive to build Nepal back better”.

More than 8000 people were killed and more than 20,000 people were injured in the April 25 earthquake, with a further 200 killed and 2500 injured in a second quake on May 12.

Over the past year, despite challenges including one of the world’s most rugged terrains, fuel shortages, monsoons and the Himalayan winter, World Vision has reached 386,984 people from emergency to recovery phase, including 171,860 children.

More than 165,000 people have benefited from food-security, livelihood and cash-for-work initiatives, 20,789 families have been provided with shelter and non-food items, 72,000 people have benefited from repairs to health posts and provision of medical supplies and equipment, and 118,000 people have been provided with access to clean water.

Construction of 54 temporary learning spaces benefited more than 8000 children while ongoing school repairs and rehabilitation of classrooms and facilities will help another 1500. Thousands of children were also encouraged to stay in school by providing them with school kits and learning materials.

World Vision also continues to integrate gender and social inclusion, disaster risk reduction and build back safer initiatives in its programs to strengthen community resilience and further help communities rebuild and thrive with more opportunities in the future.

Working in the worst-hit districts, especially Gorkha, Sindupalchowk, Dhading, Nuwakot and Dolakha, World Vision continues to establish partnerships working alongside humanitarian stakeholders, government and community partners – promoting shared accountability, enhanced local capacities and community participation.

World Vision remains committed to serving the earthquake-affected communities, standing side by side with the people of Nepal in their journey from devastation to recovery.

For media interviews, please contact:
Stuart Rintoul at World Vision Australia: +61 (0) 407 241 492 stuart.rintoul@worldvision.com.au

Or, in Nepal:
Sally Tirtadihardja, WV-NER Communications Manager +977 9810172038.
Aaron Aspi, WV-NER Communications Officer +977 9810120727.

Media Releases, Emergencies, Asia and the Pacific

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