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KATHMANDU, NEPAL – Heavy rains and the coming monsoon season in Nepal are bringing greatly increased dangers of landslides and the spread of disease, with risks even more pronounced after yesterday’s second major earthquake forced many thousands more back out of their homes and onto the streets of Nepal, according to the NGO Plan International which is working on aid distribution in Nepal.
The latest earthquake, which followed the destructive earthquake of April 25, has again forced thousands of people out onto the streets – either too scared to return to their homes or now without homes at all. Plan staff report that say many more houses and buildings have been badly damaged or destroyed.
“We have already seen heavy rain in recent days, and torrential, daily downpours will be here within weeks,” says Mattias Bryneson, Country Director of Plan Nepal.
“After yesterday’s earthquake, people are now sleeping outdoors – they are too afraid to return home, or they no longer have a home to return to,” said Bryneson.
“Families with babies and young children are left out in the wet and the cold. People are still in shock and trying to come to terms with what has happened to them, and when the weather turns, these communities will be at greater risk from landslides and the spread of diseases,” he says.
Plan has delivered more than 10,000 essential tarpaulins and ropes for temporary shelter to communities in some of the worst affected areas of Nepal, including Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha and Makwanpur.
“The international aid effort has been getting through to communities across Nepal, but we have a lot more to do. In addition to meeting people’s immediate urgent needs, we are committed to helping rebuild communities over the long term,” said Bryneson.
“We need the continued support of the international community and donors to make sure the children and communities get the resources they need to get through this monsoon season, and rebuild.”
MEDIA:
Photos from Nepal are available for download and use at: http://mediabank.plan-international.org/?c=22061&k=f5494169bd
FOR INTERVIEWS: Staff from Plan International in Nepal are available immediately for interviews. Interviews canbe arranged in English, Nepalese, Hindi, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, Bangla and Indonesia. To set up an interview, contact:
In Kathmandu:
Mike Bruce, Regional Communications Manager, Email: mike.bruce@plan-international.org
Nepal monbile: +977 9802058361 Thailand Mobile: +66 (0)81 8219770 | Skype: mikegbruce
Adam Cathro, Media Relations Manager, Email: adam.cathro@plan.org.au
Mobile: +977 9813138457 | Skype: adamcathro
In Bangkok:
Jessica Lomelin, Communications, Email: Jessica.lomelin@plan-international.org
Mobile : +66(0)959391150 Skype: jessicanicole621
About Plan:
Founded over 78 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 51 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.
About Plan Nepal:
Plan has worked in Nepal since 1978, helping poor children to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. In the hundreds of communities that we work with, there are difficulties accessing adequate health care and sanitation. The communities are often impoverished, which can leave them vulnerable. Plan has active programming and works with children and communities throughout earthquake-affected areas, and has field office in Makwanpur and Balung, close to the epicentre.
