CARE is helping devastated communities to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the two earthquakes. © CARE

CARE will today begin distributing emergency shelter and hygiene kits to nearly 2,500 people impacted by the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Distribution of 250 kits is planned in Gorkha, a rural area near the epicentre where an estimated 80 per cent of the homes have been damaged or destroyed by Saturday’s earthquake.

The official death toll has passed 5,000, with more than 8,000 people injured and an estimated eight million affected by the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years. These numbers are expected to rise as rescue teams reach remote areas, however, access remains challenging in Nepal’s mountainous areas.

CARE has launched an urgent Nepal Earthquake Appeal to help people affected by the earthquake.

“It is critically urgent that we reach these remote areas outside Kathmandu where we’ve heard reports of extensive damage, but access is a huge challenge in getting to these mountainous regions. Some villages have been completely flattened by the quake, and people are now in desperate need of basic survival items,” said Lex Kassenberg, CARE’s Country Director in Nepal.

“People have either lost their homes or are still sleeping outside in makeshift camps, in fear of more aftershocks. It is cold and rainy in these areas; so setting up basic temporary shelter is a vital need, especially for women, children and the elderly.”

The emergency kits being distributed by CARE include tarpaulins, mattresses and blankets for shelter. Hygiene kits will also be distributed that include items like nappies, sanitary napkins, soap, toothbrushes and towels. Additional supplies of food, mattresses, water purifiers, tarpaulins and soap will also be distributed to 5,000 people in Kathmandu later this week.

CARE is aiming to reach at least 100,000 people with life-saving relief such as emergency shelter, clean water and food with a focus on the most vulnerable, such as women and girls, in the remote areas outside Kathmandu towards Pokhara.

Donate to CARE’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal. $95 can provide food for 15 days, $144 can provide clean drinking water for 12 families (with water purification sachets and buckets) and $280 can provide emergency shelter to a family.