IOM NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

IOM OIM in Focus: Delivering Food and Shelter Kits in Difficult Access Mountain Areas

The International Organization for Migration is delivering much needed relief and recovery support to local populations in the districts of Kathmandu, Gorkha and Sindhupalchowk, following the series of earthquakes that struck Nepal in April and May 2015.

IOM is making a concerted effort to assist people in hard to reach areas, challenged by poor communications infrastructure, unreliable roads and steep, mountainous terrain. These populations, whose homes were destroyed by the earthquakes, are particularly vulnerable due to their isolation and limited resources to weather the forthcoming monsoon season.

PARTNERING WITH THE BENEGAS BROTHERS - EXPEDITIONS TO DELIVER DFID DONATED RELIEFTo facilitate the delivery of aid in mountainous areas, IOM partnered with Benegas Brothers Expeditions, a trekking group formed by brothers, Damian and Willie Benegas, who are experts in organizing expeditions in the Himalayas. Guided by their local knowledge of the affected areas, network of contacts and advanced trekking skills, the Benegas’ and their partners are carrying aid to remote communities unreachable by road.

IOM received shelter kits donated by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development at the Kathmandu Airport, facilitated the customs process and stored the items in the IOM Kathmandu warehouse until they could be transported to affected areas deep into Gorkha district. Once there, the Benegas’ provided Sherpa porters to carry enough shelter and WFP food aid to supply 200 families in the mountain villages.

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Transporting relief kits in the Laprak region.

Nepali families are pleased to recieve relief in the mountain villages of the Laprak region, Gorkha district.

Trekkers plan the route to reach remote villages.

DFID donated relief items are organized for onward distribution.

Sherpas carry relief items up mountain roads to reach remote communities.

Earthquake survivors in Laprak region.

Primary health care in a village.

IOM staff uploading DFID donated relief items at WFP warehouse in Kathmandu. @ IOM 2015