Supplies, medics rescue teams and millions of dollars are pouring in
As the death toll from Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake surpasses 4,350, international aid agencies and foreign governments are scrambling to deliver much needed financial assistance and supplies to Nepal.
“This emergency assistance builds on our years of support for risk reduction partnerships in Nepal,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, Director of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.The United States announced Monday it would donate an additional $9 million in assistance for Nepal, bringing the total to $10 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID.) In addition, search and rescue teams have been dispatched to Nepal as part of USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team and 45 tons of supplies have been dispatched.
India has been heavily involved in the aid operation to Nepal since Saturday, sending 1,000 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to help with search and rescue efforts. In addition, India has deployed 13 aircraft, six Mi-17 helicopters and two Advanced Light Helicopters. On Sunday, 10 tonnes of blankets, 50 tonnes of water, 22 tonnes of food items and 2 tonnes of medicine were dispatched to Kathmandu. As well as aid, India has sent three army field hospitals, an engineering task force and medical units of civilian doctors, according to the Indian Express.
The U.K. is giving £5 million ($7.6 million) in aid of which slightly more than half will address immediate needs in Nepal, with the rest to be donated to the Red Cross, which is helping with rescue and recovery efforts in Nepal. An eight-member team of disaster response specialists have been working in Nepal since Sunday. Experts from a number of U.K.-based charities including the British Red Cross and Oxfam are operational in Nepal. A Royal Air Force plane carrying 1,100 shelter kits and more than 1,700 solar lanterns departed for Nepal on Monday
“I have now activated the Rapid Response Facility. This means we can fast track funding to aid workers on the ground so they can provide desperately needed supplies including clean water, shelter, household items and blankets,” international development secretary Justine Greening said in a statement on Sunday.
China sent a 62-member search and rescue team on Sunday and has promised 20 million yuan ($3.3 million) in aid, including emergency shelters, clothing, blankets and power generators.
Israel has sent a 260-member team to Nepal to assist with rescue and relief operations along with 95 tons of aid and medical supplies. On Monday, a plane carrying a medical team of 200 doctors, nurses, paramedics, rescue teams and other personnel landed in Katmandu and began to set up field hospitals.
Australia’s foreign minster Julie Bishop pledged Sunday $3.9 million in assistance which will be split between Australian non-government organizations, supporting UN partners and the Australian Red Cross. ‘
Malaysia said Sunday it will deploy 30 members from the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) and is sending 20 doctors to help with operations on the ground in Nepal.
Pakistan deployed four Pakistan Air Force aircraft carrying rescue and relief assistance, including a 30-bed hospital and a medical team ofdoctors and paramedics, to Nepal on Sunday.
The European Union is making available $3 million to Nepal, in addition to assistance from member-states and the European Commission’s humanitarian aid to and deployment of civil protection experts in Nepal. Emergency aid includes clean water, medicine, emergency shelter and telecommunications.
“What is needed most are medical teams and relief supplies. I call on all E.U. Member States to join the coordinated European response,” E.U. Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides said in a statement on Sunday.
The United Nations has released $15 million from its central emergency response fund for earthquake victims in Nepal. Valerie Amos, the Under Secretary General for humanitarian affairs said U.N. agencies were coordinating international efforts and were working with partners in Nepal, including the government, to get aid to those affected.
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