Following the devastation caused by the Nepal earthquake, euronews spoke to Handicap International, to find out more about the rescue efforts in the
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Following the devastation caused by the Nepal earthquake, euronews spoke to Handicap International, to find out more about the rescue efforts in the Himalayan country.
Laurence Alexandrowicz, euronews:
What is the situation in the capital? Are there many people on the streets? How much damage do you estimate there has been?
Sarah Blin, Director of Handicap International:
As far as the human situation is concerned, camps have now been set up. They’re in open spaces and the tents are extremely precarious – plastic sheeting, held up by bamboo poles. Unfortunately, it rained today and the tents caved in under the weight of the water and there’s no water drainage system. Management differs from one camp to another, though, so it’s more or less organised.
There are lots of makeshift camps on the roadsides. This afternoon, we saw people’s feet submerged underwater under the makeshift tarpaulins.
euronews:
So, you’re set up there, on the ground and your NGO was one of the first to arrive. The goal of your organisation is to intervene after catastrophes and wars, to equip and assist those who are injured. What is your workload at the moment? How are you responding to the emergency?
Sarah Blin:
Our first move came three hours after the earthquake in the closest hospital to our offices. And there we helped those who were injured. Once the patient has been seen by a surgeon, there is work to do to stabilise them. Specialist equipment is needed, which we had in stock and provided immediately. Handicap International is going to be set up in rural areas which, for logistical reasons, have received very little help until now.
And we hope to be able to start helping people in these districts from Wednesday.