Nepal

Une mère et son bébé, après le séisme d'avril 2015 (c) Olivier Papegniès

Nepal

Français

6 min.

Listen

8,000

people killed by the earthquakes in 2015

16,000

people injured

80%

of health facilities destroyed

Background

Having worked in Nepal since 2007, Doctors of the World responded to the emergency, providing medical, material and humanitarian aid to victims of the earthquakes which occurred on 25 April and 12 May 2015.

The first earthquake, measuring 7.8 was the most devastating for almost a century. Violent after-shocks caused landslides and buildings to collapse. Almost 70% of the country’s infrastructure was destroyed, including almost 80% of health facilities.

The situation is still far from resolved. The Nepalese healthcare system is still suffering from the impact of the two earthquakes and communities are struggling to return to normal life.

Prev Next

What we do

Victims of crises & conflicts

after the emergency, reconstruction

In Sindhupalchok province, the effects of the earthquakes which struck in 2015 are still significant. The lack of access to good quality healthcare impedes the recovery of the injured and maintains the mortality rate at an alarming level. Today this entire community is finding it difficult to rebuild itself and hundreds of families are struggling to survive.

At the beginning of 2016, faced with this alarming situation, Doctors of the World in partnership with the Nepalese government and the Sindhupalchok health office launched a huge programme intended to restore the health system. Our teams help with rebuilding reception facilities and train local personnel in caring for the injured. The long term objective of the programme is to reduce the vulnerability of communities in case of possible new disasters.

Doctors of the World also works with communities and local associations to improve water purification and to promote access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. Our teams also support the creation of cooperatives and microfinance groups. These will enable thousands of families to benefit directly from health education but also from savings, loans and funds in case of obstetric emergency.