AID agencies across Ireland have rallied to the plight of the Nepalese people following the devastating earthquake that destroyed wide swathes of the country.
Recent reports suggest that at least 5,500 people have died, and over 10,000 injured while 2.8 million have been displaced from their homes
It was the most powerful disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake and the country is at continued risk of landslides.
In Dublin, Concern Worldwide’s Nepal Emergency Appeal reached
?¬250,000 in the first five days as the agency’s disaster response got underway.
“There was a great public response to our Nepal Emergency Appeal in the first few days,
? said Concern CEO Dominic MacSorley.
“As our team is now accessing the most remote and most devastated part of the country, the need for that continued support from the public here will grow.
“Our team has previous experience of working in Nepal as recently as 2010 so they will draw on that local knowledge and link effectively with local partners and communities.
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Mr MacSorley also praised business companies and corporations, saying that they, too, were supporting Concern’s appeal.
“Local business and corporations are often unheralded supporters in circumstances like this,
? added Mr MacSorley,
“and their role, and that of their respective staffs, should be clearly acknowledged as being vital to funding the aid effort when sudden disasters like this hit and people need urgent lifelines to survive.
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Public donations to Concern’s Nepal earthquake appeal can be made through the website: www.concern.net; on tel 1850211844; or by post or in person at Concern Worldwide (Nepal Appeal), 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2.
Meanwhile, a group of hikers will be climbing Three Glens in Wicklow on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 with all money raised going towards Concern’s Nepal Emergency Appeal.
Readers of Southside People are welcome to join in the two-day adventure. It’s all part of Climb4Concern and this is the second of the year’s climbs for Concern Worldwide.
It’s open to people of all fitness levels but naturally it is recommended that you put on your walking shoes between now and May 16.
If you are interested in taking part in the trek, then contact Siobhán O’Connor at siobhan.oconnor@concern.net or tel 01 – 4178028.
The founder of just-one, an Irish charity that has been working in the capital Kathmandu for the last 10 years is also recovering from the shock of the quake
Founder Declan Murphy wrote on his blog:
‘The destruction is so far beyond the scope and capacity of just-one that it would be completely disingenuous of me to even try suggesting that you could donate to us. If you’d like to make a meaningful contribution towards the emergency relief work that’ll be desperately needed over the days, weeks and indeed months ahead right across the Himalayas, there are far larger, better equipped and more well-known global organisations which I’m sure have already started looking for the financial support they’ll need in that regard.’
Meanwhile, writing from Nepal to thank the Irish people for the enormous generosity they have shown towards the people of Nepal, Conor O’Loughlin, Trócaire’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Kathmandu, said more than
?¬100,000 had been donated to Trócaire’s relief efforts in Nepal following the devastating earthquake on April 25.
“Those donations have enabled us to bring shelter, food and water to people left homeless by the disaster,
? he wrote.
“I am currently in Kathmandu organising urgent aid for 15,000 families in a badly affected region west of the city.
“These are people whose lives were torn apart by the earthquake, but with the assistance of people back in Ireland we are getting vital aid to them.
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Dublin’s credit unions, in partnership with the Irish League of Credit Unions International Development Foundation (The Foundation), which is the charitable arm of the Irish credit union movement, have pledged up to
?¬50,000 to help those affected by the disastrous earthquake in Nepal.
A major element of the fund, administered by the
‘Foundation’ in conjunction with other international credit union bodies, will go towards supporting the revitalisation of Nepalese credit unions which were destroyed, and to support staff and members affected by one of the worst natural disasters in recent times.
The fund, which is backed by credit unions and their members’ from across the island of Ireland, will ensure that members can begin to rebuild their homes, lives and support for their families.