These updates cover emergencies Oxfam is currently responding to around the world, although please note they don’t intend to be comprehensive.
Asia and South Asia
Nepal Earthquake
A second earthquake of 7.3 magnitude struck Nepal on 12 May. The epicentre was located 76km northeast of Kathmandu, in Dolakha district. The UN has estimated a number of 8 million people affected. There is a huge risk of waterborne disease and time is ticking to secure shelter and adequate sanitation before the monsoon rains begin in early June.
Oxfam has 5 bases responding in 7 of the worst-affected districts, and so far we have helped over 100,000 people. The greatest needs have been in public health (water supplies, sanitation, and essential hygiene items) and shelter, and as one of our engineers put it; “we need to get some form of waterproof shelter to as many people as possible”. The coming monsoon will mean further misery to homeless communities that don’t have adequate shelter, but it is also the start of the planting season, and we have been distributing seeds as well as food to ensure families don’t miss out. One of our Food Security specialists explains one of Oxfam’s distributions of food, seeds, and other essential items on our Facebook Page. Photo: Anu (7) helps other community volunteers to prepare materials during an Oxfam distribution of hygiene kits in Sankhu. The kits contain a bucket for clean water, a bar of soap, oral rehydration salts, and towels, helping people to meet their basic sanitation needs. Oxfam has also provided the community with emergency latrines to help prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases. Watch Anu’s story in this short video.
