Today, six more pregnant women and one new mother arrived at the WFN shelter home for women displaced by the earthquake. These last months of pregnancy and the time following childbirth is a special period in which women need much more nutritious food, love, and affection along with a safe space where they will feel completely protected and cared for. At WFN, we are committed to providing all of that, within an environment of family love since these women are temporarily separated from their loved ones. The women are happy and safe staying at the shelter and we give them as much love and care as we can.
The Shelter for Pregnant Women and New Mothers is a year long project that needs lots of support and funding to help and support these women during this vulnerable and special time. Together we can do much more in the months ahead and give hope to these women and keep their infants safe.
Let’s join, hand and hand together, to help in this devastating situation.
Your support will make the difference in people’s life and increase hope for them!

Today a WFN helicopter full of emergency materials was out early! President of WFN, Renu Sharma, left for the more distant areas of Dolakha District,Chilankha VDC, where 350 families received our aid packages. We wrapped food and emergency supplies in a blanket and lungies for each package going to individual families. Because we arrived by helicopter we could only stay there for such a short time, but we asked the women arriving for the emergency packages to report to us what it has been like to camp out in temporary shelters and tents for 18 days following the earthquake. Their words represent the stories and conditions of displaced families in their area of remote Dolakha district.
The people of that area say it has been extremely difficult – no one has been to help them before. It is very difficult to get by each day, especially for children and old people. Many people are crowded together at night, with many families sharing only one tent. The weather at this time of year is hot and humid with sudden and fierce thunderstorms. The tents do not protect from the heavy rain of the thunderstorms and now most of their clothes and food are wet. The little which they can salvage from their houses is also wet. It is increasingly hard to spend night after night in wet, crowded and humid conditions. People are afraid that disease will spread in these conditions. Children and old people are increasingly becoming ill with coughs and stomach illness. Because they are crammed together in small spaces, many are sick now.
There is also no shelter for their animals. Because it is birthing season, they say their young animals are getting sick and dying.
People are scared by the continuous aftershocks and are stressed and depressed. They are very worried about the future and can’t see a way out of this disaster for themselves.

This is a very hard and frightening time for the people of Nepal. Trouble after trouble has followed the damage and destruction of the earthquakes. After the second big earthquake of magnitude 7.4, the hopes of the people have been really tested, and they are really frightened for the future. Just as after the first earthquake, people have left their homes and have fled to open places again, in fear that there might be yet another major quake. They no longer trust their homes to be safe for them and this has left people vulnerable to both mental and physical suffering.
Currently at WFN: WFN is so glad to be able to tell you that the children at our shelter home as well as our team are all safe. A structural engineer from Germany visited the shelter home and he assured us that our home is safe, but due to the continuous aftershocks both the children and women are afraid to spend the night inside the house. We have made them a special tent at the garden of the shelter, which makes them feel safe.
Once more, WFN has made safe tent shelters for the local community around Boudha in Kathmandu by opening up our production center, school compound and child care center for people to overnight in. There are now over 600 people staying at those areas for temporary shelter.
WFN relief effort is also still in high gear. Reports coming in state that 14 districts have been badly affected and that distribution of aid through roadways is impossible due to damage and landslides. Remote areas are effectively cut off from overland support and are so difficult to reach that it is not possible to carry in aid by foot. However, our very first priority as a team is to reach out to those most badly affected people without further delay. Now we are planning to distribute the emergency aid through airlift.
But we see lots of challenges ahead. All helicopters are under the control of the Home Minister, so we are forced to wait a long time for access, all the while seeing the situation each minute get worse and worse. It is very difficult for us knowing that the conditions in those districts are worsening each day, but unable to reach those in need. The Government has taken control of those zones and announced that they are “sensitive” areas: this has caused delays in aid reaching those parts.
Imagine the hard life in those areas; people looking up in the empty sky and waiting and hoping to get relief. The unpredictable rainy, stormy weather adds misery to their lives. Nepal, this time of year, receives regular violent thunderstorms and the monsoon season is just weeks away. The people are scared and at the same time suffering from hunger, pain, and loss of their loved ones. We feel the responsibility lies on us, here in the city, to share and care in their sorrow. This is why we want to overcome all these obstacles and move ahead to comfort those who survived this deadly disaster.
Together we can share HOPE and together we can share a sense of relief. YES WE CAN!!!
Please! continue your support! Now more than ever the people need to know you CARE.
New Mother Project: In the midst of all this pain and misery, there is new life. WFN is pleased to report that today 11 women contacted the Women’s Foundation after learning of our new program to support pregnant women and new mothers who have been displaced by the earthquake. Three women have come to stay with us already, including one woman with a 15 day old baby. Both are doing well. There are also two pregnant women who have arrived from Sindhupalchowk and Makawanpur Districts, seeking shelter from their ravaged villages.

Women’s Foundation team left early in the morning with WFN trucks full of food, blankets, clothes (i.e. cotton lungis, wrap skirts for women) and emergency materials to the hard hit and rural section of Lalitpur District. We drove to Bhattedanda VDC ward no 5, 8 and Eigdol VDC ward no 7 which are even more remote and hilly. The people there have been hard hit losing up to 100% of their houses.
When we arrived at our first stop in the very remote and hilly village of Lalitpur, we talked with the people and started to organize the families for distribution. Then, when we were just about to start giving out supplies to families, the second large earthquake in Nepal, a very big shock of 7.3 magnitude, hit.

People in Nepal that past week were just starting to re-adjust to live again after the first earthquake on April 25. They were returning back to their homes, getting back to work, picking up the pieces and salvaging what they could, and thinking that the aftershocks were getting better, smaller and that it was pretty much over and nothing would come again that would be a big tremor or do much damage. So, this second large earthquake, coming three weeks after the first was a great shock and very frightening to everyone. With this second disaster, all the people are now very, very scared. Almost all the houses in many districts surrounding the epicenters are no longer usable, even is they are still standing and not flattened completely. Many people lost their lives and there are still even some buried in rubble and waiting for rescue. Because of the many landslides from the quake and sometimes heavy rain fall from thunderstorms, both the roadways and air rescue have serious problems sending in rescue teams. Blocked roads mean that people, family, and rescue teams cannot move from one place to another either to distribute aid or to re-unite with family members. Until roads are cleared, there is no way to move food and emergency supplies to remote villages so badly effected. Reports are coming that even safe drinking water has become a problem.

Following the quake, that the WFN team were caught up in at Bhattedanda, we immediately began distributing the supplies we had brought with us. During this devastating time, it was very rewarding to be able to successfully distribute emergency relief to 115 families and provide the most necessary relief supplies to those who needed them the most.

After that massive earthquake, the road remained blocked for 5 hours due to dry landslide. Our team was almost trapped, but because of the support of police and villagers the road was cleared and our team was back late that same night and all are safe.

We are so grateful for your continuing support and concern!

Your donations enable us to purchase and distribute tents and shelter materials, food, oil for generators, mattresses and quilts, emergency medical supplies, water purification drops and sanitary supplies. Please share this information with your friends and network. You can find donation information in the last post.

Your Support can makes a lots of difference!

 Today WFN trucks full of food, tents and emergency materials were out early! One team left for the more distant areas of Sindhuli District. Another team is waiting for road conditions to improve to travel to Dolakha District. A third team returned to Karve District with tents and rice for those families who did not receive during our last visit. Aid was distributed from outside our WFN office in Karve to 40 families. Afterwards the women stayed to report to us what it is like to camp out in temporary shelters and tents for 16 days following the earthquake. Their words represent the stories of 200 displaced families in their area.

The women say it has been difficult – no one has been to help them before now. Many of them are on their own – some of the men are working away in other countries, a common reality for many Nepali families. Of the group reporting, the ages of their kinfolk range from one month to 95 years old. The women said it is particularly difficult living this way for small children and old people. Many people are crowded together at night, with up to three families under one tent. The weather at this time of year is hot and humid with sudden and fierce thunderstorms. The tents do not protect from the deluge of rain and now most of their clothes and food are wet. Their bedding is wet and it is hard to sleep well at night.

The people, especially the children and elderly, are getting coughs, asthma and stomach cramps. Most are sick now. Without a good night’s sleep, damp and miserable, with no proper bed and not enough food to eat, everyone is starting to be stretched to the limit.

The farm animals that survived are wandering around without shelter and they bring mosquitos and flies to the camping area. It is noisy and sometimes frightening at night. Even while the discussion with the women was going on, a bad aftershock shook the ground. Many of these people were pulled out of collapsed buildings or survived being inside when the earthquake hit and they are still suffering from the trauma of the event. Continuing tremors are adding to their misery and stress.

People are also very worried about the future. They cannot see their way out of this, given the little they have left. They don’t know what will happen in monsoon season which will start in another few weeks.… their current shelter is not good enough to keep them safe from the downpours.

The main income of these people is farming and some of them had small micro loans to allow them to buy more livestock and farming equipment. Now, they have lost their animals, equipment, and buildings – they are afraid because they have nothing left and no way to pay back their loans and start again. It harvesting time, but the earthquake has shut down many small shops and it is very hard to sell their produce.

There is also no shelter for their animals, and yet it is birthing season. Calves, chicks, goats, and young animals are getting sick and dying. When they do, the women have a hard time burying the dead animals. There is no one with the strength to salvage materials from the collapsed houses. Because the men and young people are away working in other countries to earn money, the women and elderly are left to cope on their own.

 The WFN team has been busy on two fronts.  We have re-ordered supplies to supplement our dwindling resources; yesterday 700 bags of rice (30 kg each) were received as well as a shipment of tents coming from India.  Over night we will pack for an early start to reach 141 families in Purano Jhangajholi, Sindhuli District, 100 km to the east of Kathmandu.  This first team will distribute rice, lentils, and lungis for women.  A second team will leave for Sunderwati Village, Ward 5 and 6 in Dolakha District, a distance of about 170km, to distribute to 160 families there. 

 WFN is also working rapidly to hire staff and put together necessary resources in order to open our Program to Shelter Pregnant Women and New Mothers Displaced by the Earthquake.  Of the 2 million women of reproductive age affected by the Nepal Earthquake, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) estimates that 126,000 pregnant women and lactating women “are in urgent need of health services.”  These women are not only left without homes, food, clothing or shelter at time when they are most vulnerable, but their usual support network of family are left without resources as well.  In many areas of the Kathmandu valley and in countless small villages in the 7 districts surrounding the epicenter, up to 100% of buildings were destroyed or damaged and are unfit to return to.  Entire villages are living under tents and camping in open areas.  For pregnant women and new mothers left homeless after the earthquake, the need for safe, secure housing, safe food and water, nutrition, health care, bedding and clothing, and caring support is critical for both themselves and for their infants. 

Stay in touch with us for more news about this critically important new program.

 You can continue to DONATE to support our relief efforts at our sister organization Global Womens Network link here.

 You can also donate by

Name of Bank: Nepal Investment Bank Ltd., Putalisadak, Kathmandu, Nepal

Account Name: The Women’s Foundation, Kamalpokhari-Kathmandu

Account Type: Current Account-NPR

Account Numbers: 01201020251273

SWIFT CODE: NIBLNPKT

Today a team of 11 went back to Duwakot, a village located just east of Kathmandu. WFN has an office there, and one of the staff met us with a list of 60 families in a rural section of the district that were in need and still had not received any aid. Relief efforts by large organizations can sometimes be patchy and may miss individuals and families.

At our first stop we distributed tents and rice. We spoke with one survivor, Kamala Pradhan, who told us her story. She was working in the field outside her house when the quake hit. She immediately thought of her mother, trapped in the house, unable to walk since she is crippled by arthritis. Regardless of the fact that her house was starting to fall apart, Kamala ran into the house to rescue her mother. She found her on the ground floor, picked her up and carried her 72 year old mother on her back outside to safety while the quake was still happening.

Renu Sharma, president of Women’s Foundation Nepal, announced a new program to provide shelter, food, medical access, nutrition, counselling and health support for pregnant women and new mothers who have been displaced by the Gorka Earthquake. She was interviewed on Radio Nepal today about this new program to reach women who have been left without homes, food, sanitary conditions or support at such a vulnerable time. “During our relief efforts in the devastated communities around Kathmandu, we were struck with how terrible conditions were for any woman who will give birth in the coming weeks. We want to provide a safe and healthy place for them to go to.”

The Women’s Foundation team left for Deupar Gairi Bisouna village, VDC Ward 7 and 8, at 9am Wednesday morning. We carried with us supplies for the 65 families living there. After travelling on some very poor roads, the team of 6 arrived without any problems at 1:30pm. WFN distributed rice, blankets, salt and sanitary products (soap, etc.) to approximately 400 people.

In this village, no houses have been left standing. Six people in two families died during the quake. The two families lost members ranging in age from a 70 year-old grandmother to an 8 year old girl.

 Women’s Foundation team left Kathmandu early in the morning of May 4 carrying food and emergency items to the hard hit Sindhupalchowk District, including Gaymere VDC, Ward no 2,3,4,5,and 8. Seven hundred families were scheduled to receive relief supplies of 30 KG of rice and 5 KG of lentils each, as well as some emergency supplies of dehydration salts and medicines.

Women’s Foundation was joined by a team from the Center for Women’s Rights and Development. A team of doctors who were originally requested to join us was turned back because of dangerous conditions on the road. We reached our first scheduled stop at 1:30pm and began distribution of the aid packages to each family. We did not finish all distribution planned for all locations for the day until 12 midnight.

The people were very happy to receive this support. No organization or individuals had reached them up to that time. They had been on their own dealing with the aftermath of the disaster and its destruction. In all of these communities, destruction of homes and buildings was almost 100%. Those who suffer most continue to be women, children and old people.

These are their stories: 

• We spoke with a 70 year old man with no living relative who is taking care of his two small grandchildren. He has only one hand and is very weak himself. He said he had been feeding the children and himself only some leaves and roots in the eight days since the earthquake. He said that now his grandchildren are living like animals, eating the same food as animals. 
• We also found a blind husband and wife on their own. They have no family members in their village. Conditions are extremely difficult for them.
• In one village, a 4 year old boy has been left orphaned. His entire family died in the earthquake.
• In another village, Two girls aged 4 years and a 6 year old girl were left orphaned after all their family members died.

Challenges in reaching our aid destinations

People in these areas are frightened and angry. Before reaching our first destination, our convoy of trucks was stopped by a gang of people. Hundreds of people physically stood in the way of our trucks and stopped them from moving. They wanted to take all the food and supplies. They demanded that everything be turned over saying that they were equally hungry and suffering. Our team tried to reason with them and to convince them that the villages further on were in even worse condition and had not received any aid yet, but they would not listen. They forcefully took 115 sacks of rice and 500 kg of lentils. We were unable to prevent this, but luckily they did not take all of our supplies. We could continue on to our first stop where we distributed much needed supplies to 215 families. Road conditions, as we made our way to other distribution locations, were very difficult. We managed to make it through the more hilly areas only to be stopped again by a barricade of wood on the road. A large gang of people began to stone the teams inside the trucks demanding that we turn over everything to them. It was an extremely tense and difficult situation. We called for the support of the local police and eight police came, but it was not possible for them to control the situation. Finally our team was able to negotiate with the gang and they took 120 sacks of rice. Then we were on our way again to our second village where we distributed to 200 families. We finally reached our last stop at 10 pm when we were met by hundreds of people waiting anxiously for help. We did not have enough rice after losing so much to gangs, but luckily we met a shopkeeper from Kathmandu who had just arrived with supplies. We were able to buy 80 sacks of rice and finish our distribution to an additional 130 families. Our team was not finished its work until midnight. We arrived back safely in Kathmandu at 3:00am.

What’s Today?

May 5 we again go into the Sindhupalchowk District to continue to distribute aid to a further 250 families in Thampal Dhhap. Each family will receive 20 kg of rice, 5 kg of lentils, 1 kg of salt, rehydration salts and medicine and sanitary items (soap, etc.)