a resource describing the red cross work on the ground to deliver vital support to those in need in nepal afgter the earthquake in April 2015. To make a donation to our appeal please go to http://www.redcross.ie/news/appeals/nepal-quake-donate-appeal/ #nepalquake #redcross

1. Nepal Earthquake 2015 – Situation and Operational Update
(as of 29 April 2015)
Highlights
 Latest government figures on total causalities is 4,358 deaths and 8,174 injured people.
These numbers are expected to increase further as search and rescue teams reach remote
areas.
 Total affected population not yet determined (Red Cross estimates 5 million, UN 8 million)
but 30 of 75 districts are reported to be affected, including many remote villages and
communities.
 More than 72 hours after the earthquake, the focus remains on continuing to work with
everyone on the search and rescue efforts, as well as providing first aid and tarpaulins as a
measure of shelter.
 According to early indications, 1.4 million people are in need of food assistance. Of these
750,000 people live near the epicentre in poor quality housing. Impact on agriculture based
livelihoods and food security is expected to be extremely high.
Situation Overview
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Nepal on Saturday 25 April – the worst to hit the region
in 80 years. The epicentre was in Lamjung district, approx. 80km north-west of Kathmandu and
70km east of Pokhara, the two main cities of Nepal. An estimated 6.2 million people live within
100km of the epicentre.

2. The earthquake, felt as far as Lahore in Pakistan, Lhasa in Tibet and in Dhaka, Bangladesh – left
significant damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure. It is estimated that more than 500,000
families are displaced, in excess of 35,000 homes have been destroyed and a further 17,000
seriously or partially damaged.
The humanitarian situation remains extremely serious. Although some roads from the capital,
Porkhara and Gorkha are reportedly accessible, many areas remain difficult to access and as a result,
the full picture is still unclear. With its narrow, steep mountain roads, traversing the terrain in this
region is challenging even in normal times.
Numerous aftershocks ranging from magnitude 5.5 to 6.6 continue to rattle the area, causing further
damage to buildings and forcing many of the affected population to take shelter in tents and on the
streets outside their homes. Electricity and telephone connectivity remains intermittent and mobile
services are experiencing heavy congestion, while the number of injured people is exceeding
hospital capacities. Airport congestion also remains a key challenge for the Red Cross in getting
supplies and technical teams on the ground.
Red Cross Red Crescent Response
- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its member
National Societies around the world are mobilising resources to assist affected population,
working alongside and in support of Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS). Shortly after the
disaster IFRC, launched a preliminary emergency appeal for the amount of 33.5 million
Swiss francs (circa 32 million Euro). The appeal will allow the Nepal RC to deliver critical life-
saving assistance to a total of 75,000 earthquake survivors in Nepal including emergency

3. shelter and basic household items, emergency health and care, livelihoods support, dignified
burials and restoring family links services to communities affected by the earthquake.
- Before the earthquake, the Red Cross had approx. 19,000 relief kits pre-positioned in Nepal.
On top of this the IFRC have relief supplies, sufficient for approx. 50,000 families, pre-
positioned through Asia Pacific.
- More than 1,500 volunteers and 300 staff of the NRCS continue to work around the clock in
extending first aid, transporting the wounded to hospitals, supporting search and rescue
efforts, and providing temporary shelter to those affected.
- So far approx. 2,300 tarpaulin and rope, 2,000 bars of soap, 6,600 aqua tablets and 500
packets of oral rehydration salts have been distributed.
- In addition, the Red Cross blood bank in Kathmandu is providing blood supplies to the main
medical facilities in the capital.
- Global IFRC response tools have been mobilised and include a Field Assessment and
Cooordination Team (FACT) to lead assessments and 12 Regional disaster response teams to
support NRCS to direct the first waves of international assistance. Seven emergency
response units (ERUs) have also been deployed including relief, basic health care with
surgical capacity, rapid deployment hospital, logistics and telecommunications.
- The ICRC has also deployed experts in forensics and restoring family links.
Based on the analysis of information available, emergency response priorities are anticipated to be:
 Search and rescue, especially in the remote rural areas outside Kathmandu.
 Heavy equipment for rubble removal
 Health: Many of the areas affected did not have well-functioning hospitals even prior to the
earthquake. There is a need for medical supplies and capacity. Psycho-social support to
survivors is also likely to be required.
 Emergency shelter, including family kits, plastic sheets and blankets.
 Water and Sanitation including the provision of safe drinking water, pending restoration of
supply, hygiene kits.
Irish Red Cross Response
- An emergency appeal has been launched.
- Irish Red Cross has so far pledged €50,000 to meet the needs of thousands of individuals and
families and to support the emergency response activities of Nepal Red Cross Society.
- We have also contacted the IFRC to notify them that we have a number of technical experts
available for deployment to the affected region. We will await further confirmation from the
IFRC on this offer of support.
- Restoring Family Links updates from ICRC Geneva inform us that they are not accepting
traditional tracing requests from National Societies. Instead they are requesting that
National Societies inform enquirers to register their details directly on the family links
website: http://familylinks.icrc.org/nepal-earthquake.
If you have any questions or queries with regards our operational response in Nepal please
contact our Asia Desk Officer – AnnaMarie O’ Carroll on aocarroll@redcross.ie or via her direct
line on +353 1 6424613.
Should your query relate to our Emergency Appeal please contact Laura Gallagher from our
Fundraising Department on lgallagher@redcross.ie or at +353 1 6424659.