UNICEF Say’s One Million Children Need Help in Nepal after Quake

NEPAL – Almost one million children urgently need help after an earthquake claimed more than 3,200 lives in Nepal, the UN children’s agency said, as relief workers raced to help the most vulnerable.

Children and Families Homeless living on the Streets

With thousands of children camping out in the open in the capital Kathmandu after their homes were destroyed in Saturday’s quake, UNICEF warned of the risk of disease.

“At least 940,000 children living in areas severely affected by (the) earthquake in Nepal are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance,” it said in a statement.

“Limited access to safe water and sanitation will put children at great risk from waterborne diseases, while some children may have become separated from their families.”

UNICEF said it was mobilizing staff and sending two cargo flights with 120 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, including medical and hospital supplies, tents and blankets.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake has devastated parts of the country, destroying buildings and ancient monuments and ripping apart roads, power lines and other infrastructure.

A ShelterBox response team is preparing to travel to Nepal to see how ShelterBox can be of assistance following an earthquake measuring 7.8 in magnitude.

The quake occurred between the major cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara , with tremors felt as far away as Delhi in India. More than 3,200 people are reported to have died following the earthquake, while there is extensive damage to homes and buildings.

ShelterBox is already in talks with several aid agencies and Rotary contacts based in Nepal to see where we can help.

Dave Ray, ShelterBox Operations Coordinator, said: ‘One of our contacts based in Kathmandu told us that the environment is filled with fear and that people have been told to expect more tremors. There is a lot of damage in Kathmandu and emergency relief will be required for sure.’

In addition, a ShelterBox response team is heading to Nepal to get a first-hand idea of the scale of destruction and the level of need for shelter. We already have aid, including tents, pre-positioned in the country, which could be used as emergency clinics, as well as shelters in the immediate aftermath.

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