People in Need is distributing thousands of tarpaulins in Nepal. 6200 families will be provided with temporary shelters

Beginning last weekend, tarpaulins were distributed by People in Need, local volunteers, and our partner organizations, Welthungerhilfe and Helvetas, to six villages. On Sunday, we managed to bring five trucks with thousands of tarpaulins from Kathmandu to Gorkha and more trucks arrived at the beginning of this week. “Today, we distributed hundreds of tarpaulins in a few heavily damaged villages around Gorkha,” says Denisa Bultasova, PIN’s coordinator of humanitarian aid in Nepal. She adds that each family will receive one large tarpaulin, along with ropes to fix it in place.

“Some houses are standing, but people are afraid to sleep in them. There are still tremors, multiple times a day,” explains Bultasova. Many people lost their houses entirely. Now they have nowhere to hide from the rain. That is why PIN will continue the distribution of tarpaulins in the next few days. More tarpaulin distributions will be managed by our partners from Allinace2015 in neighbouring villages.

“In total, we will distribute more than 6200 tarpaulins, which we are currently transporting to Gorkha,” says Denisa Bultasova and adds that the trip from Kathmandu to Gorkha now lasts a whole day because of the damaged roads. Transport to remote villages is even more complicated. People in Need and our partner organizations are also providing aid in the district of Sindpalchuk, where the earthquake caused the biggest casualties among the population. “In conjunction with Phase Nepal, we distribute tarpaulins and basic medical supplies to 1200 households in the villages of Hagamand and Fulpingkot,” says PIN’s team director Petr Navrat.

Mountain areas are accessible solely by helicopters

Some villages in the northern part of the Gorkha district still do not have aid, nearly ten days after the catastrophe. “Because of the rugged terrain and landslides, the villages are inaccessible. Helicopters are the only way to reach them,” explains PIN’s media coordinator in Nepal, Tereza Hronova. This is why People in Need is attempting to arrange either helicopter transport or sherpas.

#~gallery-959~#

“In the higher altitudes, there are problems with food, because the earthquake demolished rice and corn silos. In other places, medical assistance is still needed,” says Hronova. Our team has to assess the situation in each village, because the needs can differ greatly. We are also assisting with aid coordination in the city of Gorkha.

People in Need plans public works and expands its team

“We are considering the launch of public works programmes that are focused on debris removal, road repair, and landslide removal. People can earn a basic income this way,” says Marek Stys, PIN’s director of humanitarian programs. “There are many things that need to be done, but right now, we have to address the most acute needs – shelter, food and water.”

The needs in the region are still widespread. So far, the earthquake has caused more than 7500 deaths and left 14500 injured. According to the UN, 191 000 houses were destroyed and another 175 000 were damaged. More than 3 million people need food aid. Because of necessity, our five-member team will grow by two people. “We are building a team of 20 to 25 local employees, and we also have a well functioning team of loyal volunteers,” says Stys.

The public appeal SOS NEPAL has raised more than 19,7 million CZK to date (approx. 0,8 million USD). People in Need would like to thanks to all people who have contributed to the public appeal or are considering doing so. Their donations will be very useful during the reconstruction of country in the following months.

For more information, please contact:

Tereza Hronová, media coordinator in Nepal

tel. +9779808582292 (Nepal), +420 731 129 553 (Czech Rep.), +8821655561042 (satellite phone)

mail Tereza.Hronova@clovekvtisni.cz

Marek Štys, director of the humanitarian department of PIN

tel. +420 777 053 522

mail Marek.Stys@clovekvtisni.cz