2015 Nepal Earthquake

The massive relief efforts continue in Nepal as millions of survivors of the recent earthquake have been displaced. In many cases, houses have been completely destroyed or the fear of structural collapse is preventing families from living in their homes – or even within their communities.

As the congestion of relief items being sent to Nepal subsides, more people in affected areas are receiving aid. GlobalMedic’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) capacity is growing as new volunteers are continually arriving in Kathmandu and joining up with current teams. Operations have expanded into rural Nepal in the unforgiving landscapes of the country’s less populated areas. GlobalMedic is constantly assessing the needs in affected areas and providing aid that is deemed most essential.

Today, the RRT navigated roadways blocked by landslides to provide hygiene kits, Rainfresh household water purification units, food, and shelter to 92 families in the impoverished village of Maidham. Located in the Nuakort district of Nepal, 100% of homes in Maidham have been destroyed and the isolation has caused extreme living conditions for the 500 residents. To date, GlobalMedic has provided over 20,000 litres of clean drinking water through the AR10 and Trekker water purification systems. Rainfresh units are being distributed daily, along with enough Aquatab water purification tablets to sanitize an additional 350,000L of water.

GlobalMedic’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Team is flying alongside the Nepalese military, who is providing navigational and logistical aid. The UAVs are being used to collect aerial photography and live videography to allow for detailed mapping of the disaster zone. This will facilitate in the prioritizing of communities in need of aid, as well as the planning a direct route in order to access them.

At home in Canada, GlobalMedic’s volunteers are showing great dedication to helping the devastated country by packing household water purification units and additional supplies that are being shipped to Nepal nearly every day.

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CECI’s Nepal team is safe and sound and already working to assess emergency needs while providing immediate relief to victims. Our office in Kathmandu will soon be able to distribute basic necessities to the people (food, water, survival kits, tents, etc.) to meet needs identified by local authorities. Our efforts will provide support to populations in the hardest-hit districts of Sindjupalchowk and Gorkha, where CECI has been active for several years.

CECI Executive Director Claudia Black is calling upon Canadians to give generously. “CECI has been working in Nepal for nearly thirty years. It is the only Canadian international development organization with permanent offices in Kathmandu. CECI has the human resources, knowledge and partner network needed to provide reliable, fast and effective aid on the ground. Help us offer the Nepalese people the relief they need. Every second counts.”

28 Years of field experience in Nepal 
CECI has been operating in Nepal for 28 years. The Nepal team is made up of humanitarian aid experts whose emergency response experience includes the earthquake in Gujrat, India in 2001, Cyclone Narjis in Myanmar in 2008, in the 2010 floods in Pakistan, and the earthquake and tsunami in the Philippines in 2013. CECI was also among the first organizations to provide relief in Haiti in 2010 and is well known for its post-earthquake operational expertise.

(Adapted from Worldline Press Release)

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, April 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Worldline, a division of Fibernetics Corp, is providing free long distance service to Nepal commencing today until May 15th 2015 for Canadians looking to get in touch with friends and family members who have suffered due to the earthquake that devastated that country. It’s a simple process. First dial 844 44 NEPAL (63725) and then dial the destination number when prompted.
Dial 844 44 NEPAL (63725)

This will provide a free long distance connection to the Nepal destination number.*

“Our hearts go out to the people of Nepal and all those whose family and friends have been impacted by this disaster,” said Worldline Co-Founder and Fibernetics President John Stix.

“With so many people out of contact, we hope just getting in touch with loved ones helps those who have lost so much. We also encourage all Canadians to help however they can.”

Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 earthquake, centred outside the capital city Kathmandu, was the worst to hit the South Asian nation of 31 million in more than 80 years and has left thousands dead and many thousands more injured. One of deadliest quakes worldwide over the past 40 years, the tragedy is only compounded considering how badly prepared the mountain nation was for such an event. The total economic losses are projected to “exceed the GDP of Nepal.”

It also struck at the worst time in the calendar year—just before the start of monsoon season. According to the United Nations, local hospitals are overloaded and “post-earthquake diseases are a concern,” especially as thousands of survivors will now be exposed to the elements. Further, this earthquake is feared to be a lingering disaster, with landslides more common due to the unsettled terrain.

*Callers may be subject to any charges from their carrier and regular usage minutes may apply. All we ask is for callers to implement their own “fair use policy” and limit their call time, as we want as many callers to use this free service as possible. Also, as this is a free, it will not be a supported service.

About Worldline:

Worldline, the residential division of Fibernetics, provides high quality telecom products and services in the most cost effective way possible. Worldline’s Unlimited High Speed DSL and Cable Internet, Home Phone, Long Distance packages and Bundle plans are specifically designed for hard working Canadians. As one of the fastest growing telecommunications companies in the country, Worldline is all about providing unlimited flat rate services with no mandatory contracts. Website: www.worldline.ca Twitter: @worldlinecanada

About Fibernetics:

Headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, Fibernetics goes “Beyond Telecom” by providing superior products and services at the fairest prices to the Canadian market place with a singular focus on customer service in everything they do. Selected as a regional finalist in the Canada’s Best Managed Companies program for 2014, Fibernetics has its own national infrastructure that delivers a full range of voice and data services for residential customers through Worldline and for business clients with the NEWT Business Phone System and Business Internet. Website: http://www.fibernetics.ca/ Twitter: @fibernetics

Media Inquiries:
John Stix - President 
Fibernetics Corporation
519-489-6700

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On April 25, 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake centred 80 kilometres from the capital, Kathmandu, struck Nepal. Thousands of lives have been lost, with a large number of injuries and destruction of property and infrastructure. Although needs assessments are ongoing, it is clear humanitarian needs will be substantial.

Donation criteria for individual Canadians

For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities in response to the Nepal earthquake, the government will set aside one dollar for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund. The government will use the money set aside for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to provide financing to international and Canadian humanitarian and development organizations responding to the disaster, through established Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) channels and procedures.

To be counted toward the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, donations must be made by individual Canadians, may not exceed $100,000 per individual and must be:

• monetary in nature;
• made to a registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations in response to the Nepal earthquake (please note, donations cannot be made directly to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund or to DFATD);
• specifically earmarked for response to the Nepal earthquake;
• made between April 25 and May 25, 2015.

For more information about making an individual donation to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, visit the How to make a donation page.

Donation criteria for individuals fundraising on behalf of organizations

Donations from a fundraising event undertaken to raise money from individuals in response to the Nepal earthquake are eligible to be matched. This fundraising may be undertaken by schools, faith-based organizations, clubs, social groups, businesses, incorporated entities or charitable organizations.

Any donations made by corporations, governments, businesses, partnerships, schools, incorporated or non-incorporated entities, and unions from their existing resources that were not raised from individuals specifically in response to the Nepal earthquake are not eligible to be matched. In addition, donations to augment the amount originally raised from individuals through a fundraising activity or event are not eligible to be matched.

For more information about making a donation to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund on behalf of corporations, organizations and groups, visit the How to make a donation page.

Donation criteria for registered charities

Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund Declaration Form (this will be made available soon on the DFATD website). Forms must be received by DFATD on or before June 12, 2015, for donations to be counted toward the Relief Fund.

To ensure that donations are eligible for the matching program, you should ensure that:

• the donation complies with the conditions outlined above;
• the registered charity receiving the donation will be using the funds to respond to the needs resulting from the Nepal earthquake; and
• the registered charity receiving the donation will be declaring it to DFATD.

Declaration form

It is up to the registered Canadian charity to certify, through the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund Declaration Form (this will be made available soon on the DFATD website), that the donations declared are eligible. Registered Canadian charities are under no obligation to declare donations to DFATD if they are not satisfied that they meet the eligibility requirements. Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the declaration form. Forms must be received by DFATD on or before June 12, 2015, for donations to be counted toward the relief fund.

The Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and will be administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity declaring the amount of eligible donations raised does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities, the government will set aside one dollar for the Relief Fund. The government will use the money set aside in the Relief Fund to support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations to meet needs resulting from the earthquake in Nepal.

Guidelines for submitting proposals to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund

The Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund will support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations with significant in-country capacity to deliver humanitarian, early recovery and reconstruction assistance in Nepal.

Allocation of funds

Charitable organizations fundraising for the relief efforts in Nepal will not have privileged access to financing from the Relief Fund. Allocation decisions will be based on DFATD’s humanitarian assistance guidelines and the ability of Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations to access the affected populations and deliver timely, effective and appropriate assistance.

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Plan Nepal’s country director, wrote this morning:

“It is starting to rain in many areas, and all over the region people are living outside with little or no shelter, children are crying, and health care facilities are overrun.”

This 7.8 quake was 16 times more powerful than the quake that shook Haiti just over four years ago, and the worst to hit Nepal in 80 years.

Plan staff are reporting widespread destruction, collapsed buildings, schools severely damaged and many roads blocked due to landslides.

“Some of the worst affected areas are communities of Dalit people, sometimes referred to as the ‘untouchable’ caste,” says Mattias. “These are already some of Nepal’s poorest and most marginalized, vulnerable communities, making their needs all the more urgent and acute.”

Our staff are working around the clock to prepare for the coordinated distribution of immediate aid and trying to reach remote rural communities to help.

We will provide life-saving emergency assistance, and will ensure we reach children and the most vulnerable people to get them what they need to recover.

Source: Plan Canada Email, April 26, 2015

A catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal Saturday, killing hundreds of people and destroying numerous houses and buildings.

More than 1,000 people are known to have died, and the death toll is expected to rise as officials dig through the rubble.

The quake struck an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara, the US Geological Survey said. Tremors were felt across the region, with further loss of life in India, Bangladesh and on Mount Everest.

Samaritan’s Purse ministry partners are in Nepal, assessing the damage. An Incident Management Team at our international headquarters in North Carolina is gathering information on the extent of the damage and formulating a response.

We will be deploying a disaster response team and expect to be helping victims with emergency shelter, water, and hygiene kits. Please pray for our team on the ground as they bring hope and supplies to those affected.

One of our partner churches in Nepal were holding a church service when the earthquake hit. After they felt the quake, they led the people outside and had a one hour worship service after the earthquake, praising God for the safety of their church members. “We are thankful for God that we built a building to withstand a 7.9 earthquake.  We are serving our community. We are opening our doors for the community to come in.”

The earthquake collapsed houses, leveled centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches in the Himalayas. It was the worst temblor to hit the poor South Asian nation in over 80 years.

The quake struck before noon time and was most severely felt in the capital as well as the densely populated Kathmandu Valley. A magnitude-6.6 aftershock hit about an hour later, and smaller aftershocks continued to ripple through the region for hours.

Please pray for everyone affected by the earthquake, for those who have lost loved ones, and for families whose homes have been destroyed. Pray that God will grant wisdom as Samaritan’s Purse determines how to respond, and that our work will convey the love of Christ.

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In the early morning of Saturday, April 25, 2015, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal – the largest quake in 81 years in the region. Over 900 people have perished with death tolls expected to rise once the rubble is cleared. In Kathmandu, homes have been destroyed and walls have toppled. Landslides have closed roads and killed climbers staying in the base camps on Mount Everest. There are many remote areas that have not been contacted as of yet. The worst is feared.

GlobalMedic is responding. Our team based in India is enroute. A team from Canada will bring water purification equipment, distribute hygiene kits and NFI (non­food item) kits and deploy field hospitals based on needs assessments. GlobalMedic needs your help with the response – 100% of your donation will go towards sending relief supplies to the region. You can donate here: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/23548

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Delhi/ Kuala Lumpur/ Geneva, 25 April 2015 –  The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is preparing to mount an international emergency response to the estimated 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Nepal today.

Volunteers and staff of Nepal Red Cross Society are working on the ground assisting in search and rescue efforts and administering first aid to the injured. The Red Cross in Nepal has extensive experience in responding to natural disasters and plays a lead role in the government’s contingency plans for such disasters. The Red Cross blood bank in Kathmandu is also providing blood supplies to the main medical facilities in the capital.

The Red Cross has limited stocks of emergency relief items available in the country and ready to be distributed. The IFRC is also activating its logistics systems in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai in readiness to mobilize additional relief materials.

The earthquake has caused buildings to collapse in Kathmandu and hundreds of people are reported to have been killed. The main hospitals in the capital continue to function but are stretched to capacity and it is not clear the extent to which essential services have been disrupted. Strong aftershocks continue to be felt, causing a risk of further damage to many buildings and triggering concern and fear among the local population, many of whom are afraid to return to their homes.

“I was in my 5^th floor apartment and the shaking was extremely violent… we could see dust rising from the hills around the city and luckily we were able to evacuate,” said a British Red Cross staff working with the Nepal Red Cross Society in Kathmandu.

The epicentre of the quake was 80 kilometres from Kathmandu in Lamjung, Gorkha district, which suffered significant damage.

“We are extremely concerned about the fate of communities in towns and villages in rural areas closer to the epicentre,” said Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Director for Asia Pacific. “Roads have been damaged or blocked by landslides and communication lines are down preventing us from reaching local Red Cross branches to get accurate information. We anticipate that there will be considerable destruction and loss of life.”

The IFRC is mobilizing resources from its hubs in New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and is releasing funds from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support the initial emergency response.

Nepal’s National Society for Earthquake Technology had previously estimated that a large-scale earthquake in mid-Nepal could displace over 1.8 million people, kill over 100,000 and injure a further 300,000.

“We do not yet know the scope of the damage, but this is could be one of the deadliest and most devastating earthquakes since the 1934 tremor which devastated Nepal and Bihar,” said Chapagain. “People will need considerable support including food, water, medical care and emergency shelter.”

The shock was felt nationwide and as far as Pakistan Tibet and Bangladesh. It is not clear how it has affected neighbouring Sikkim, Bihar and West Bengal.

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the earthquake that struck near Kathmandu, Nepal:

“On behalf of all Canadians, Laureen and I offer our heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal and northern India who lost family and friends in this powerful earthquake and its aftershocks. The thoughts and prayers of all Canadians are with the many affected by this disaster and we wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.

“Our officials in the region are working with Nepalese and Indian authorities to ensure that any Canadians affected by the earthquake are safe and accounted for. In cooperation with international partners, they are also assessing the needs of the affected populations to determine how Canada may most effectively assist with the disaster if asked to help.

“We mourn with the people of Nepal and India in the aftermath of this terrible natural disaster and offer our help and our prayers.

“Canadian citizens in Nepal requiring emergency consular assistance should use the Registration of Canadians Abroad (http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration) service, and contact the Consulate of Canada in Kathmandu, Nepal, by calling + 977 (1) 444-1976,  or Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available). An email can also be sent to sos@international.gc.ca.

“Friends and relatives in Canada who are concerned about Canadian citizens known to be in the affected area should contact Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 1-800-387-3124 (toll-free) or 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted) or sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.”

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