MERS Case Study: Response in Nepal after the earthquake in 2015

Nov 1, 2015 | by Sphere

On 25 April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal. It was the largest earthquake to take place in the country in 80 years. Less than three weeks later, on 12 May, another 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the already devastated country. Together, the two earthquakes killed nearly 9,000 people and injured around 22,000 more. With 14 out of 75 districts severely hit, the lives and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of poor and vulnerable families across Nepal were seriously affected.

Dan Church Aid (DCA), a member of the ACT Alliance, began its immediate response on the third day after the disaster. Along with other ACT member organisations, DCA started distributing cooked meals in the affected areas and providing immediate Shelter, WASH, and Community based psychosocial support. In areas where markets were functioning and accessible, DCA provided cash assistance based on the community’s desires and needs. This support continued through the recovery phase1