ReliefWeb

(26/04) Repeated aftershocks in Nepal are hindering rescue operations in the areas hit by the severe earthquake. The people are afraid of going back into their houses and wander around in the streets looking for their relatives and friends.

„We are working in our partner organisation’s courtyard. It is too dangerous staying in the office with all these aftershocks. The people are so frightened and are trying to get in touch with their relatives living in rural areas, without success so far“, says Barbara Zilly, Welthungerhilfe Country Coordinator in Nepal. „There is constant contact with our partner organisation here to get our first emergency activities started. We need temporary shelters, but also food and everyday items. The communication networks are failing again and again. We try to exchange news by using text messages (SMS).“

The Welthungerhilfe emergency response team, together with THW (Technisches Hilfswerk) and Malteser, is on the way to the disaster area providing support to the colleagues on the ground.

Welthungerhilfe has been working in the rural areas of Nepal since 1972. Many projects on water and food security are implemented in cooperation with the largest local non-governmental organisation RRN.