QRC issues emergency appeal to raise QR12mn for earthquake victims

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has issued an emergency appeal to raise QR12mn for the relief of Nepal earthquake victims and allocated QR1mn for emergency relief operations.

The charity has set up an emergency operation room to assess the situation and define needs based on available information.

Despite the scarcity of early assessment reports due to the outage of telecommunications and destruction of main roads to remote villages, the main needs, based on situation reports issued by the Nepalese government, include providing healthcare as well as water and sanitation services, shelters and food provisions in addition to kitchen and hygiene kits, blankets and food packages.

According to several reports, the earthquake caused buildings to collapse in the capital, Kathmandu. As search and rescue efforts continue, hospitals in the capital continue to function but are stretched to capacity. Powerful aftershocks continue to be felt, causing a risk of further damage to many buildings and increasing the climate of fear among the local population, many of who are fearful of returning to their homes.

The epicenter in Lamjung, Gorkha district, has suffered significant damage. Most casualties reported were in the Kathmandu valley where buildings have collapsed in

the densely populated areas, including historic buildings

such as the Dharahara Tower.

Nepal's National Society for Earthquake Technology had previously estimated that a large-scale earthquake in mid-Nepal could displace over 1.8mn people, kill more than 100,000 and injure a further 300,000.

The tremor was felt nationwide and as far as India, Pakistan Tibet and Bangladesh.

To donate, visit the QRC website at www.qrcs.org.qa