Generous UK donors continue to give to help stricken Nepal
More aid will be needed for Nepal after the country was struck by a second devastating earthquake.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) announced on Tuesday (12 May) that £50 million had been raised from people in the UK to help those affected by a 7.8 magnitude quake in the west of the country two weeks ago.
Hours later news broke that a similar sized earth quake, of 7.3 magnitude, had struck in the east, near Mount Everest.
After the first disaster, aid agencies were working to help more than 310,000 people in the country – that number will now rise significantly.
The death toll – in the region of 8000 after the first quake – will also rise steeply.
People started running, screaming and shouting as the ground shook. Animals went crazy too. Everyone was terrified and are now too afraid to stay indoors
Aid agencies are trying to react to the disaster on the ground. Rebecca Stewart from Save the Children – one of the 13 members of the DEC - said via phone from Nepal: “We were driving through the village of Shipaght in Sindhupalchowk District to the east of Kathmandu when the quake hit. People started running from their homes screaming and shouting as the ground shook. Animals went crazy too. Everyone was terrified and are now too afraid to stay indoors. There are a lot of landslides but we’ve managed to avoid big rocks landing on the road.”
Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: “We are extremely grateful for the extraordinary generosity of UK public.
“Despite the immense challenges facing those affected and relief efforts, the response continues to grow day by day.
“Our members’ teams are working around the clock to provide essential aid. A huge amount of work remains to be done before the monsoon rains make the response even more difficult and the risk of disease outbreaks increase.”
Much of the cash already given will go towards preparing people for the rainy season in June, giving displaced and homeless people access to clean drinking water, better shelter and sanitation facilities.
To donate, visit here.
