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Children affected by Nepal earthquake increased to nearly 3 million UNICEF is on the ground to prevent potential measles outbreak

2015-04-28

HONG KONG, 28 April 2015 — Number of children affected by Nepal earthquake increased to 2.8 million, accounting for 40 per cent of the 7 million affected populations. As millions of people spent their fourth nights outdoor fearing of aftershocks, outeak of disease in the temporary camps is a grave concern, there is potential measles outeak, after diarrhea reported to be an issue in Kathmandu Valley. UNICEF teams are on the ground, readying Measles Rubella vaccines and providing water truck services to prevent potential disease outeaks. More public donation is required to meet the evolving need of affected children.

On 26 April, people walk around the historic Durbar Square destroyed by the earthquake on 25 April in Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. On 27 April 2015 in Nepal, relief operations continue in the aftermath of the massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on 25 April. The quakes epicentre was 80 kilometres from Kathmandu, the capital. The Government has declared a state of emergency in 35 affected districts in the country, where more than 1.3 million people over half of whom are children have been affected. More than 5,000 people have been estimated killed and 50,000 have been injured. Homes and vital infrastructure, including hospitals, have been severely damaged or destroyed, leaving thousands of children and families homeless, vulnerable and in urgent need of food, shelter, safe water, and sanitation and health support. Most of the displaced are sheltering in camps or in available open spaces. The situation has been continuing powerful aftershocks that have caused additional damage. Working with the Government and other partners, including fellow United Nations organizations, UNICEF is supporting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, nutrition, child protection, and education interventions. In response to the disaster, UNICEF is providing hospitals tents, tarpaulin sheeting, emergency medical kits, vaccines and related supplies, zinc and oral rehydration salts to prevent diarrhoeal disease outeaks, and temporary learning spaces and psychosocial counselling for children. UNICEF is also procuring emergency health kits, and is supporting water trucking services in camps for the displaced.

The government of Nepal has declared a state of emergency in 35 affected districts. Three UNICEF teams have arrived Bhatkapur, Kathmandu Valley and Lalitpur to assess the situation. Most of the displaced people are currently in camp settings. Shelter, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are serious issues. UNICEF is co-leading the WASH, Education and Nutrition Clusters to join international efforts together, to response to the situation in Nepal.

Post-earthquake disease outeaks, especially in temporary camp settings, are a grave concern - diarrhea is already an issue in Kathmandu Valley. UNICEF is working with the government and partners to ensure children receive critical WASH-related information to prevent child illness especially diarrhea. Vaccines are stored properly and made available to prevent potential outeaks, especially Measles Rubella vaccine, while water truck services are provided to all 16 camps across Kathmandu Valley. More water sanitation items are being procured locally, while more tents, tarpaulins, Measles Rubella vaccines with syringes as well as emergency medical kits are being urgently procured offshore, to meet the evolving need.

DENMARK, COPENHAGEN 27 April 2015 Within hours after an earthquake of 7.9 magnitude struck Nepal on Saturday, 25 April 2015 , UNICEF Supply leapt into action, packing medical supplies, hospital equipment, tents and water and sanitation items and other life-saving supplies for hospitals and communities. Supplies were readied by Sunday night at UNICEFs global warehouse hub in Copenhagen, and destined on both commercial and charter flights throughout the week to come. Aid is also being prepared for shipment from UNICEFs warehouse in Dubai. UNICEFs supply response is supported by logistics staff who have been deployed as part of the immediate response team. It is the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years and by the end of the weekend, the death toll had exceeded 3,000.

Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) calls for public donations to support UNICEF’s relief work in Nepal, "UNICEF HK has received over HK$2 million from our donors in just few days, but much more support from the public is required to ensure the needs of affected are met - affected children has been increased to nearly 3 million already. Join us, to protect Nepali children, to prevent diseases outeaks from happening.”

To help children and families affected by the earthquake in Nepal, please make online donation at unicef.org.hk/donate.

Donation for Nepal Earthquake

Online donation:	/donate
Direct Bank-in:	HSBC: 567-354014-005
	Bank of China: 012-875-0-021868-3
	Wing Lung Bank: 020-601-003-7634-8
	Bank of East Asia: 015-260-81-012100
Hotline:	2833 6139

(In the unusual event that donations for Nepal Earthquake exceed the needs, we will direct your gift to disaster or emergency relief actions elsewhere.)

Donate NOW to support Nepal Earthquake response

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For more information please contact:

Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF

Jamie Wong, Communication Specialist	Tel / Mobile: 2836 2967 / 6149 3378	Email: [email protected]