Switzerland - IOM is ratcheting up a major humanitarian effort to reach the most vulnerable among the eight million affected by Nepal’s massive earthquake. Initial relief supplies, consisting of shelter kits, solar lamps and tarpaulins are already being distributed to shattered communities, and the Organization has appealed for US $31 million to continue and expand its assistance.

“We’re chasing the growing needs in terms of emergency response, led by the Government of  Nepal and humanitarian partners”, said IOM team leader Brian Kelly, speaking from Kathmandu this morning, “Relief supplies began moving out of the airport yesterday, we have visited displaced families in dozens of open areas and are building up a detailed picture of what has to be done. Right now the most crucial need we are seeing is for shelter and healthcare.”

Planes carrying vital shelter materials, including 1,100 shelter kits, 1,700 solar lamps and 700 plastic sheet rolls, donated by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were received by IOM at Kathmandu airport on Thursday morning. These materials have been delivered to humanitarian partners for immediate mobilization to areas where assistance is needed most.

More IOM staff are arriving by the hour to reinforce the large 400 person IOM Nepal office, and the Organization hopes to establish rapidly a presence in remote areas of the country where communities were hardest hit.

Large numbers of people are leaving the capital Kathmandu in search of shelters, services and to find their families. This will put additional stresses on scarce services, warns IOM. Also, health facilities are hopelessly overwhelmed, meaning injured people are in dire need.

“Five days have passed since the earthquake struck; the priority outside the Kathmandu Valley is to ensure that life-saving assistance, now arriving in the country, reaches affected communities in the fastest, most efficient way possible” said IOM’s Chief of Mission in Nepal, Maurizio Busatti. “We also have to start thinking about the future: how to stabilize, rebuild and recover.”

The appeal launched by IOM is in line with objectives and priorities of the Flash Appeal issued by the United Nations and humanitarian partners. The humanitarian community, including IOM, remains committed to supporting the Government of Nepal in addressing critical needs throughout the country. Priority sectors for assistance include shelter, water, sanitation, health, food and protection.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake caused immense damage and loss of life in the Himalayan nation. More than 5,000 people were killed and at least 10,000 people injured according to latest figures Some 70,000 houses were destroyed and another 530,000 damaged across 39 of Nepal’s 75 districts. It is estimated that at least eight million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. These numbers are expected to climb as response teams gain access to remote parts of the country.

Initial estimates indicate that over 500,000 homes have been destroyed and about 2.8 million people are displaced. Outside the densely-populated Kathmandu Valley, many are yet to get assistance as access to remote areas is still limited. IOM is working with the Government and other partners to reach affected areas by road and air in the coming days.

IOM teams also completed profiles of displacement sites across Kathmandu yesterday. This information will be shared with all humanitarian stakeholders to help ensure assistance is delivered effectively.

Link to IOM Nepal Flash Appeal here

For further information please contact:

Maurizio Busatti, Email: mbusatti@iom.int, Tel. +977 9801004510

Brian Kelly, Email: bkelly@iom.int, Tel. +66 818326802

Matt Graydon, Email: mgraydon@iom.int, Tel. +977 985 11 061 82

Joe Lowry, email: jlowry@iom.int, Tel. +66818708081