It has been six weeks since the devastating earthquake which hit the country in April and there have been over 100 aftershocks since. The tremors are coming everyday. Today there was a tremor, yesterday there was a tremor – for the locals the earthquake has not stopped. Heavy rains in the last week have brought additional distress with a number of districts reporting significant mudslides with additional loss of life.
BNMT continues to focus our earthquake relief on trauma counseling, sanitation, medical supplies and distribution and relief for affected areas in the form of shelter and supplies.
We are supporting affected communities with trauma counseling and now training other organisations with the skills necessary to provide similar programmes of care – so extending the access to these services.
With the advent of monsoon – access to safe water and sanitation facilities amongst displaced communities remains a high priority – especially in and around Kathmandu valley with its high population density. We are working through the District Public Health Offices in a number of areas with the building of community latrines. Some of this work has been specifically supported by Handle with Care International – Thank you!
We have been supported very generously by International Health Partners (IHP) with medical supplies – which we have been distributing through the District Public Health offices in affected districts as well as running primary care clinics in some of the remoter areas. Thank you IHP!
Finally – a big thank you to the Britain Nepal Society. Since the earthquake they have been actively fundraising to support the earthquake relief of two charities – BNMT and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. They held a fundraising event at the Nepal Embassy in London on Friday 12th. His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester attended the event and Isabella Tree spoke about The Living Goddess – the stories of the Kumaris of Kathmandu valley.
And our co-Chair and her friends are walking 100km on 17th/18th July in support of the BNMT Earthquake appeal – follow their fundraising progress and donate here.