Kathmandu: CARE Nepal, one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations fighting global poverty, is responding to the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on November 3, providing immediate relief and support to the affected communities.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have caused significant damage in Nepal’s Karnali, Sudurpaschim, and Lumbini provinces, with Jajarkot and Rukum West districts being most affected.
As of November 6, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reported a total of 157 casualties and 256 injuries with massive damage to infrastructures.
CARE Nepal, one of the first international aid agencies in Nepal, has been working closely with government and local partners to assess the needs of the affected communities and provide immediate relief assistance, according to the organization. “CARE has distributed essential immediate relief suppliesincluding inclusive shelter kits, winterization kits, hygiene kits, dignity kits, as well as health and nutritional provisions, ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook foods, and kitchen utensils.”
Additionally, CARE Nepal will be providing psychosocial counseling through its expert partners to help people cope with the trauma caused by this disaster.
“CARE Nepal is committed to provide immediate relief and support to the communities affected by this disaster along with mid and long-term support in the rehabilitation of the affected communities. Our primary focus will be on the needs of women, girls, and individuals with disabilities,” said Mona Sherpa, CARE Nepal Country Director. “We also need to take into account the likelihood of gender-based violence (GBV) as well as an outbreak of communicable diseases, cold-related ailments, and waterborne diseases in the coming days due to onset of winter and damaged infrastructures, including latrines, while designing our long-term response efforts.” These challenges further highlight the importance of a rapid and effective response to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the affected communities, Sherpa added.
CARE Nepal, in partnership with the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) secretariat, local partners, NGOs, INGOs and government authorities, is actively coordinating efforts to gather detailed data on the urgent needs of those affected by the earthquake, according to the organization. CARE Nepal will also conduct Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA) for better and targeted response considering the specific needs of women and girls. With the severity of the situation, especially with the onset of winter, CARE Nepal is dedicated to address the immediate needs of the survivors.
The organization is actively coordinating with the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), NGO Federation, Security Forces, local authorities, Mayors, Information Officers, and the Red Cross to closely monitor and assess the developing situation in the affected regions, reads a statement by the organization.
CARE Nepal and its partners are committed to stand by the affected communities during this challenging time while mobilizing resources and expertise to provide support, relief, and help in the recovery efforts, states the statement.
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