Appeal #700-U
ACT Alliance appeal amount: $12,817,453
CWS appeal amount: $1,000,000
Nepal continues to struggle following the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that shattered homes and businesses April 25. With an epicenter around 50 miles northwest of Kathmandu, this was the most powerful earthquake to hit the region since the Bihar earthquake of 1934, and its impact has been devastating in terms of loss of life and destruction of infrastructure. The confirmed death toll in Nepal has reached 5,000, with more expected as outer areas are reached and assessed for damage.
CWS immediately supported ACT Alliance members in Nepal. In the first few days following the earthquake, ACT Alliance members distributed ready-to-eat food, blankets and tarpaulins for emergency shelter to more than 2,100 displaced families in informal camps within the three districts of the Kathmandu valley. At the same time rapid needs assessments, both within the Kathmandu valley and in five highly impacted rural districts outside the valley have been carried out.
Nepal’s government estimates some 2.8 million are without shelter. Temporary sanitation and hygiene are particularly important in makeshift camp environments due to the risk of epidemic outbreaks in a country with chronic communicable diseases, including cholera. As many as 3.5 million need immediate food assistance, and an estimated 1.7 million children have been affected by the disaster.
Members of the ACT Alliance Nepal Forum – including DanChurchAid, Finn Church Aid, Lutheran World Federation and Lutheran World Relief plan to help provide shelter, food and other items, psychosocial support and livelihoods assistance.
CWS RESPONSE
CWS will respond through the ACT Alliance Nepal Forum members and in particular, Lutheran World Relief. The consortium has carried out assessments and will respond in the most heavily impacted districts, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Sindupalchowk, Dhading, Lamjung, Kabre and Gorkha.
The target population for support is particularly vulnerable from having experienced the loss of family members and destruction of their homes and livelihoods in the earthquake.
Shelter
CWS will support efforts to provide 22,000 families in targeted areas with emergency tarpaulins and other temporary shelters. An additional 2,500 vulnerable families will receive cash assistance to help them find safe, adequate shelter in the crisis.
Food
With a goal of reaching 25,000 of the most vulnerable who have been affected by the quake, partners will provide immediate and short-term assistance to those at risk for hunger.
Water and sanitation
Partners will reach a combined 95,000 in providing access to water, sanitation and hygiene needs, providing temporary access and some permanent fixtures where none previously existed.
Psychosocial care and education
A combined 29,000 children in target schools will have access to a protective and safe school environment that will allow for quality learning after the earthquake. Partners will also train teachers and others to be able to help children cope with trauma following the emergency.
BUDGET
Direct program – food packages, water supply, basic household NFIs, plastic tarpaulins – $11,358,111
Material relief – transport, warehousing and handling – $432,085
Indirect costs – personnel, administration, support – $1,027,257
TOTAL: $12,817,453
Contributions to support CWS emergency response efforts may be made online or sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515 (designate 700-U, Nepal Earthquake Appeal). Donations to our emergency response efforts around the globe may also be made online.
CWS is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.