Press release -
The Church of Sweden’s humanitarian aid and relief managers go to Nepal
Ten-year-old Sasmita Susmitalopchan shares her temporary shelter measuring just a few square metres with 21 other people. “I was sitting down, cooking rice, when the earthquake happened. I ran out into the field. Our home was destroyed – everything was destroyed. I’m still frightened.” Photo: Antti Helin /FCA/ACT.
Anna Garvander, head of the Church of Sweden’s humanitarian aid and relief work will go to Nepal on Thursday 14 May. Marina Kalisky, an expert in psychosocial work, will also be there. During one week they will chart the continued need for aid and prepare for the arrival of additional people from the Church of Sweden’s staff pool for rapid humanitarian aid.
Through the international network ACT Alliance, the Church of Sweden was already on site when the earthquake occurred in Nepal, and the Church receives daily updates on the prevailing needs. Within ACT Alliance the Church of Sweden has special responsibility for ensuring psychosocial measures and it sends psychosocial advisers to help in this work.
“We know that people recover more quickly following a disaster if psychosocial measures are provided at an early stage,” says Anna Garvander. “People’s acute needs for food, medical care and a roof over their heads must be met first of all, but in parallel it is important to start activities that create security, routines and some kind of normality for both children and adults.”
The needs for aid and psychosocial needs are charted in the affected villages, often by people who make their way on foot to the villages to meet inhabitants eye to eye and listen to what they say. This forms the basis of assessments of what can and must be done.
“One concrete activity in the psychosocial work is to create meeting places where children can meet other children, gain protection and feel safe. This also lightens the load for the parents in their work to build up a new everyday life.”
Women’s groups and support groups for both teachers and parents, leisure activities for young people and training in crisis management are other examples of activities that may need to be provided in Nepal.
So far the Church of Sweden has donated SEK 5 million to the rescue work, and about 5,000 families have received food parcels, blankets, hygiene articles and other necessities.
“We also provide tarpaulins and other materials so that they can build temporary accommodation, which is the biggest need in preparation for the coming monsoon period.”
CONTACT:
Anna Garvander, head of the Church of Sweden’s humanitarian work and children’s rights expert with sound experience of disaster relief and humanitarian aid. E-mail: anna.garvander@svenskakyrkan.se, tel: +46 705 76 39 99
Topics
- Disasters
Categories
- church of sweden
- nepal
- kathmandu
- earthquake
- act alliance
- humanitarian aid
- relief work
MEASURES FOR THE PEOPLE AFFECTED IN NEPAL
During the first few days after the earthquake the Church of Sweden – via ACT Alliance – distributed food, blankets and tarpaulins to more than 2,100 families affected in and around Kathmandu. Eleven districts in the country suffered serious damage, and ACT Alliance works in eight of these. The focus of the work is to supply water and sanitation, shelter and temporary accommodation, food and other necessities, a means for people to provide for themselves, training/education and psychosocial support. ACT Alliance’s local partners will remain in the country after the acute stage and will contribute to the long-term work to rebuild the country.
Through Act Alliance the Church of Sweden contributes the following:
Temporary accommodation for 23,500 families.
Water and sanitation for 35,000 families.
Food parcels and necessities for 25,000 families.
Parcels of kitchen equipment, soap, blankets and towels for 30,000 families.
Access to a safe and secure school environment for 15,000 children.
Psychosocial support for 14,000 people.
