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ShelterBox’s logistics team, along with help from our response teams in Nepal, have worked around the clock to transport aid into Nepal. Despite major logistical challenges and a bottleneck at Nepal’s only international airport in Kathmandu, an initial 500 tents, along with 500 shelter kits have now arrived in the country to bring shelter to the thousands of communities torn apart by the massive earthquake.
While early reports suggest that around 600,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, the full extent of the 7.8 magnitude quake that hit between the major cities of Pokhara and the capital of Kathmandu is yet to be revealed.
Our ShelterBox response teams are currently based in Kathmandu as well as in the district of Sindhupalchowk, where around 95% of buildings have been damaged or totally destroyed by the shock of the earthquake.
In Kathmandu and other urban areas, the main priority is to clear rubble, and to rebuild structures, while in rural and remote areas, whole villages have been totally devastated.
Nicola Hinds, who arrived in Nepal last week, said: ‘We have already heard that in the area of Gorkha, 90% of buildings have been destroyed and a further 5% have been partially destroyed. We believe that it will be a real challenge to reach all of these communities, but we will find a way because that's what ShelterBox does.'
As different types of aid are needed in different parts of the country, ShelterBox’s logistics team, based in Helston, UK, have decided to send 500 UN specification tents and 500 shelter kits from pre-positioned stocks in Dubai.
Families in remote areas, who have completely lost their homes, will be provided with tents, while shelter kits will be distributed to people living in urban areas.
The kits, which contain tarpaulins, rope and essential tools for building, can be used to help clear rubble, to make temporary shelters and to repair damaged homes.
Shane Revill, Supply Chain Manager, said: “By sending out a range of different aid, we are ensuring that we meet the needs of different communities. In rural areas, whole villages have been destroyed, so it is essential that families have shelter to protect them from the elements. In cities like Kathmandu, the contents of our shelter kits will help people to rebuild their homes while be able to stay close to their families and communities.’
ShelterBox will continue to send further aid to Nepal and is currently finalising partnerships with fellow aid agencies Handicap International (HI), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, (ACTED), to ensure that we reach as many communities in need of shelter as possible.
