photo: Buildings in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal. (Bulent Doruk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
What We Know
- RMF operations centered in Kathmandu but working quickly to set up outreach efforts to outlying areas and villages; the population in rural areas are completey cut off.
- While some agencies are on the ground as well as government teams from China, Bhutan, India and Israel, there is still an overwhelming need for emergency help and supplies
- Ground transportation is extremely limited, there is even difficulty for motorcycles to pass due to ongoing avalanches, challenging terrain, and pre-existing road conditions
- The airport is open and operational in Kathmandu
- Thousands are without shelter
- Electricity and water infrastructure has been affected
- Most trauma cases are being brought to the teaching hospital in Kathmandu where local medical staff is working tirelessly
- There is an immediate need for medications, equipment and psychotrauma services
Needs
- Huge need for funds to purchase big tents, plastic that can be used as tents, and other temporary structures. Tens of thousands of families in rural Nepal will likely need tents through the monsoon rain coming in 1-2 months
- Water purifiers — small and easy to carry
- Warm clothing/bedding, rain gear
- Medical professionals with orthopedic and post-trauma experience
- Those injured are in need of blood — if you are in Kathmandu head to the Teaching Hospital — there is a help desk set up to help you there
RMF's Involvement
We will apply much of what we learned from our previous Pakistan, Peru and Haiti earthquake relief efforts regarding the immediate needs of medical treatment of injuries (infections and major surgical needs), shelter, food, clean water and trauma relief. We have a lot of experience in this area and filling gaps that arise even with the big agencies on the ground. Cholera is something everyone will be keeping an eye out for if large tent camps are set up without proper sanitation facilities. We will also try and purchase as much of the supplies we need locally when possible to support the local economy.
Thank you to the Society of Nepalese in Hawaii (SNEHA) who are working with domestic Nepali cultural and medical groups to raise funds for us to use when we implement. For more information you can visit their website — Society of Nepalese in Hawaii.
What we know
- RMF operations centered in Kathmandu but working quickly to set up outreach efforts to outlying areas and villages; the population in rural areas are completely cut off.
- While some agencies are on the ground as well as government teams from China, Butan, India and Israel, there is still an overwhelming need for emergency help and supplies
- Ground transportation is extremely limited, there is even difficulty for motorcycles to pass due to ongoing avalanches, challenging terrain, and pre-existing road conditions
- The airport is open and operational in Kathmandu
- Thousands are without shelter
- Electricity and water infrastructure has been affected
- Most trauma cases are being brought to the teaching hospital in Kathmandu where local medical staff is working tirelessly
- There is an immediate need for medications, equipment and psychotrauma services
Needs
- Huge need for funds to purchase big tents, plastic that can be used as tents, and other temporary structures. Tens of thousands of families in rural Nepal will likely need tents through the monsoon rain coming in 1-2 months
- Water purifiers — small and easy to carry
- Warm clothing/bedding, rain gear
- Medical professionals with orthopedic and post-trauma experience
- Those injured are in need of blood — if you are in Kathmandu head to the Teaching Hospital — there is a help desk set up to help you there.
RMF’s Involvement
We will apply much of what we learned from our previous Pakistan, Peru and Haiti earthquake relief efforts regarding the immediate needs of medical treatment of injuries (infections and major surgical needs), shelter, food, clean water and trauma relief. We have a lot of experience in this area and filling the gaps that arise even with the big agencies on the ground. Cholera is something everyone will be keeping an eye out for if large tent camps are set up without proper sanitation facilities. We will also try and purchase as much of the supplies locally as possible to support the local economy.
Thank you to the Society of Nepalese in Hawaii (SNEHA) who is working with domestic Nepali cultural and medical groups to raise funds for us to use when we implement. For more information visit their website — Society of Nepalese in Hawaii
– See more at: http://realmedicinefoundation.org/blog/archives/2015/04/27/nepal-earthquake-disaster-relief/#sthash.eA3zMd1t.dpuf
Background
More than 8,500 people are dead and over 15,000 injured following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the Himalayan region the morning of April 25, 2015. Eight million people are affected across Nepal, and one million children are in urgent need of help.