Disaster Response Nepal Project #20354

Earthquake Aid Nepal

Project Report | Apr 25, 2016
Nepal - A year after the earthquake

By Michael Tuerk | Project Manager

Saru Shrestha in her small shop. DKH/Jeffrey

The Newar community, in which Saru Shrestha is living, was particularly hard hit by the earthquake in Nepal. Luckily the Newar got support by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a member of the ACT Alliance and a good partner of us. Since the earthquake the LWF was active with several measures, including the distribution of blankets, tents and corrugated sheets. It also granted financial support. One of them is a subsidy which should help Shrestha to start her business. Born into a family of 10 people, Shrestha left the school after the earthquake to help her younger brothers and sisters. With the small grant Shrestha established a business with tea, snacks and sweets. "At first it was very hard, especially the discussions with the people who wanted to buy things on credit. But I feel now less shy", says Shrestha, who uses most of the earned money to pay the school fees for her sisters and brothers. Part of the revenue she sets aside. "My dream is to open a second store for the sale of cosmetics," says the young entrepreneur.

Dear donors, one year after the devastating earthquake on 25 April 2015, the consequences in Nepal are still visible. Nevertheless, we were able, thanks to the help of our donors, to make a difference:

More than 400,000 people were provided with food, hygiene articles or ceiling.
Before the onset of winter, helpers corrugated sheets, tarpaulins and other construction materials, and thus enabled 50,000 families to build temporary shelters or repair their homes.
Over 13,000 families received seeds so that agriculture is back on track.

Now after the emergency actions we now come to the reconstruction phases. Alone in the district Kavrepalanchok, with the help of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, 300 new homes are planned to be arised, in the district Lalitpur 200 houses. The challenges are immense. Many roads are impassable, somew isolated regions can only be reached by helicopters or mules.

Until now, the reconstruction started slowly. The reconstruction Authority, which was convoked by the government, began its work in January 2016th. As soon as the authority has carried out an assessment of the situation and approved planned projects, we can begin to start the reconstruktion phases.

Thanks to your support, we were able to achieve a lot, but the new beginning is also associated with many difficulties. Please stay with us, give us further support, so that we can going on making differences to the people of Nepal!

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