Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) - "Nepal is shaken and unstable, but citizens have survived and look to the future with hope, after the tragic earthquake", says, in a note sent to Fides, Fr. Louis Prakash, SJ, Director of programs at the "Nepal Jesuit Social Institute" in Kathmandu, two months after the earthquake on April 25, which caused 8,000 deaths and nearly 14,000 injured, devastating 31 districts out of 75. "The earthquake - says Fr. Prakash - left behind a trail of death and destruction. People were terrified and totally destabilized. But the Nepalese have begun to recover from the shock and to reorganize their lives. This occurs regardless of the fact that the seismic shocks continue to take place in various parts of Nepal".
"People are surrounded by rubble – he continues – and have started to collect everything possible to create temporary shelters. Many Nepalis working abroad have returned home to help rebuild the country".
Over 330 humanitarian agencies, including Caritas, informs the Jesuit, work today in 51 districts, engaged in more than 2,200 aid projects: "They are providing food assistance, water, health care, post-trauma counseling, temporary housing". The efforts of NGOs are added to those of the government which distributed special "coupons" to homeless people, allowing them to buy construction materials to build temporary shelters. According to recent reports, mentioned by Fr. Prakash, the earthquake completely destroyed 480 thousand houses and partially damaged 260 thousand. The National Disaster Management has sent inspection teams to several affected districts to assess the distribution of aid and reconstruction.
The Council of Ministers has set up a "National Consultative Committee on reconstruction" to draw plans to revive the economy and rebuild the damaged houses and other infrastructure. "The joint effort of solidarity between institutions, international agencies and civil societies is therefore bearing fruit of hope" the Jesuit concluded. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/06/2015)
