Nepal’s second earthquake a double disaster

Published: 12th May 2015

Cecilia Keizer, Oxfam’s country director in Nepal said: “This is a double disaster leaving many of the survivors of the first earthquake shocked and fearful of further tremors. Our teams in the quake areas reported that buildings collapsed and landslides have blocked the roads. They too were very shaken but immediately got back to work. Whilst we don’t yet know the full extent of this second major earthquake, we do know that the people of Nepal will need much more support to help them put their lives back together.

“It was already a race against time to reach people before the monsoon season arrives at the beginning of June. It’s now more vital than ever for us to be able to reach as many people as possible.”

Oxfam currently has over 100 staff and volunteers working in seven districts in the country on the humanitarian response and all are safe.

Oxfam is helping over 60,000 people over seven districts in Nepal, delivering clean water, emergency toilets, shelter, food assistance and hygiene kits. Reaching communities in the country’s rural districts has been challenging and initial reports suggest fresh landslides have cut off some areas.

Notes to editors

Oxfam branches have set up national appeals for the public to donate to the Nepal relief effort, in theUSAustraliaBelgiumCanadaFranceGermanyGreat BritainHong Kong and MacauIrelandItalyMexicoSpainNew ZealandQuebecIndiaKorea (fundraising office), the Netherlands and Sweden (fundraising office). Outside of these countries, the public can donate via oxfam.org. Ibis, an Oxfam observer (Denmark), has also launched an appeal asking for donations for Oxfam’s emergency work in Nepal.

Oxfam initially aims to help 400,000 people affected by the earthquake in Nepal. We are working in camps for displaced people across the Kathmandu Valley as well as in four rural districts: Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok, Dhading and Gorkha.

We have flown in almost 20 tons of vital aid supplies to Kathmandu international airport and trucked in more to remote villages in the Gorkha region. We have reached more than 60,000 people so far with clean water supplies, hygiene kits, temporary latrines, and shelter.

Oxfam’s public appeals around the world have so far generously raised  $22 million. Oxfam is also part of major joint humanitarian appeals in Belgium, UK, Canada and Holland; appeal totals are still to been confirmed from those countries so are not included yet in Oxfam's figures.

Contact information

To arrange interviews or find out more information, please contact:

In Kathmandu, Kai Tabacek, +44 7584 265077, (+977) 986048 1663, ktabacek1@oxfam.org.uk, Skype: k.tabacek, @KaiTab
In UK, Lisa Rutherford on +44 7917 791 836, +977 9810 114 660, lrutherford@oxfam.org.uk, Skype: lisarutherford23
In India, Gunjan Jain, mobile +91 9811777387, gunjan@oxfamindia.org
In Australia, Angus Hohenboken, mobile: +61 428367318, angush@oxfam.org.au
In the US, Vanessa Parra, mobile +1 202 476 0093,  vparra@oxfamamerica.org, @ParraV

For updates, please follow @Oxfam.