News

In order to track the stories reported on earthquake occurred in Nepal through mainstream media and social media, HERD has started media monitoring of major news agencies such as BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, Ekantipur.com, OnlineKhabar.com, Setopati, Ratopati, My Republica.com, Pahilo Post.com, Twitter and Facebook. Based on daily media monitoring as of April 30, 2015 of 7 hours (9 am to 4 pm), the major stories covered are categorized and discussed below:

Possibility of Outbreaks

There is possibility of outbreak situation in Kathmandu valley due to poor sanitation and improper waste management. Dead bodies are starting to rot and people have started to show up in hospitals with diarrhea.

Management of Food, Drugs and Supplies

There is urgent need for tents and blankets in different places such as Kavre where 4000 people are left stranded in the open. Several agencies such as CARE have provided food kits for earthquake victims. However, there are complains that the earthquake victims in Kathmandu valley and elsewhere have complained that even basic things like food and tents are deprived even after five days of the disastrous incident.

With regards to drug supply, there are reports that the manufacturer claims having abundance of drugs but there is a lack of distribution mechanism. Government has initiated a good move by arresting retailers for selling essentials to consumers at a high price with a penalty up to two hundred thousand rupees. News agencies such as CNN also have reported that the piled boxes of rice and noodles aren’t nearly enough to meet the needs of the local people.

Sanitation

As the earthquake survivors are residing in open places, there have also been issues of cleanliness and sanitation. UNICEF reports that 1.7 million children are in desperate need of vital aid including clean water, shelter and sanitation. Some local volunteers through their own initiation cleaned BICC compound in Baneshwor sheltering 1000 people.

Emergency Health Care

World Health Organization (WHO) claims that it has been coordinating foreign medical teams (doctors, nurses and paramedics) providing emergency care services. Indian Army through Operation Maitri has been providing emergency health treatment services in two field hospitals in Sinamangal, Lagankhel and Gorkha. All India Radio also reports that Madhya Pradesh Government will send 180 tonnes of ready to eat food material. According to CNNreport, a coordinated effort of Indian Air Force and Nepalese Army medical team to launch rescue mission to bring injured people to hospitals in Kathmandu. Another organization, Child Reach International also reports that it has received a team of 8 doctors and 23 parcels of emergency medicine.

Aid Management

Foreign aid is flowing and with huge flow of aid, aid management is a big issue. United Nations has pledged to donate 15 million USD for rescue, relief, rehabilitation and re-establishment. Some examples of aid include IKEA Foundation gifting 3.3 million dollar for UNICEF for children and families. There are reports of record 19 million pound raised in a single day by Britons for earthquake victims for Nepal. UNICEF has also appealed $50 million to get more lifesaving aid. Some innovative efforts have been made for fundraising such as mountain bikers raising fund for Nepal Quake victims. JCB Machines also donates 650,000 pound worth of machinery to support relief effort diggers. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationhas also announced response grants worth 1 million dollars to meet the critical needs of earthquake affected. Rastriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has also provided aid to 20000 people in relief camp in Bhaktapur. Prince of Saudi Arabia also generously donated 10 billion rupees to be used through International Medical Corp, Habitat for Humanity and World Food Program. Universities such as Beacon National University are setting up donation camp to support Nepalis. A small though effective initiative of was done by Sahara School providing first phase of relief in VDCs of Sindhupalchowk. Online Khabar.com reports that Federation of Nepal Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is providing 1 billion worth of relief package from Bhrikutimandap. Similarly, Prabhu Group has also pledged to donate Rs. 10 million as relief fund for earthquake victims. Pacific Asia Travel Association has also donated relief materials worth Rs. 150,000.

Doc 2 Doc has also listed appealing for donations: American Red Cross, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care, Catholic Relief Services, Christian Aid, Disaster Emergency Committee, Doctors for You, ICRC, Islamic Relief, Doctors Without Borders, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan, Save the Children, UNICEF, Water Aid, World Food Programme, World Vision.

Efforts from the Government

Government of Nepal has pledged to provide relief package of 9 lakhs to 253 affected VDCs. So far, it has distributed tents and essentials in affected districts totaling 26.3 million. In order to maintain law and order, the government has also issued public message to call police if the local transport agencies demand for high bus fare and has also arrested people for spreading false news.

Confusion and Criticism

Despite these efforts, there is need of crowd fund to rehabilitate villages such as Daman. Residents of Bhaktapur have been protesting the government for not providing relief. They complained of not receiving tents and other essentials, forced to live in the open. There has also been wide criticism of reports relief materials being taxed. As a government’s viewpoint, e-kantipur reports that the Minister for Information and Communication Dr. Milendra Rijal views that aid through government channel would be more effective. There has been unhealthy competition of opening accounts for relief and government says not to open any accounts without getting authorized from the government. WHO also comments through Twitter that the relief response still requires international support for essential medicines, tents and other critical needs. The Guardian reports that reconstruction effort in Nepal must incorporate safeguards against future natural disasters rather than being rushed through. There has also been wide criticism of media reporting on earthquake and media agencies such as The New York Times have provided tips about better media reporting on earthquake.

Reactions

Reactions from the public over aid management have sadly being mostly negative. Some of the comments in social media such as Twitter such as lack of coordination for relief efforts with regards to mobilizing helicopters (relief funds) and dropping tents to affected areas. There is also public mistrust over aid directly reaching out to the target audience as the people are finding out ways of contributing in such a manner that the aid directly reaches to the earthquake victims. Some agencies like UNICEF and Save the Children are worried about the dangers children face after the earthquake as well as other tough decisions to make on the face of disaster.

Rescue Efforts as of Today

Keeping aside all these issues, some tireless efforts have been put in by various agencies for rescue operations. A 4 month old baby was rescued alive today after being buried for 22 hours under rubble in Bhaktapur while a 15 year old teenager was rescued after 5 days. Nepal Army today too rescued an 11 year old girl from Bhaktapur. Pahilopost.com reports that 109 foreigners and 92 Nepalese rescued by Nepal Army helicopter from Langtang, Ghodathbel, Syafrubesi, Kyanjin monastry and Ghunche area/ Similarly 6 from Lamjung, 9 from Dhadings Budathung, Basesi and Sengjeng; 4 from Gyangfedi of Nuwakot, 10 from Syamjung of Gorkha and 18 from Tatopani of Sindhupalchowk. Tribhuvan University, Institute of Engineering  today also has formed a taskforce to study the instrastructural damages caused by the devastating earthquake.

Efforts Continue …

CNN has listed supporting earthquake victims on the ground: Nepal Red Cross Society, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Action Aid USA, Action Against Hunger, Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, All Hands Volunteers, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Jewish Worldwide Service, Americares, CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, Child Fund International, Concern Worldwide, Convoy of Hope, Direct Relief, Empower Generation, Global Giving, Habitat for Humanity, Handicap International, International Medical Corps, International Relief Teams, Islamic Relief USA, Jewish Federations of North America, Lutheran World Relief, MAP International, MercyCorps, Operation Blessing International, Operation USA, Oxfam International, Plan International, Real Medicine Foundation, Save the Children, Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse, Seva Foundation, Shelter Box, UNICEF, World Food Programme, World Vision.

These organizations have been working day and night for relief efforts but there needs a coordinated mechanism between government and non-government bodies. There are also recommendations for effective aid management such as systematic coordination, aid transparency, avoid medical voluntarism, reach the rural poor and better reconstruction.