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.)

WFN Needs Your Support Now!

A massive 7.8 earthquake in Nepal has killed thousands and left countless more injured and homeless. With the days mounting and rescue and relief efforts still hampered by continuing aftershocks and impassible road conditions, it is critical to get resources and help to the suffering people of Nepal.

Women’s Foundation Nepalis on the ground!

WFN is presently meeting with community leaders, buying much needed medical, water purification and sanitation supplies as well as tents, tarps and basic living needs for the people we can reach who are most in need. See more →

“I was married when I was 13 years old. My husband died when I was 14. After that time, I was a helpless, poor widow. It was a very hard time for me to survive. I had no place to stay because my husband’s family blamed me for my husband’s death and did not want me.  Anyway, I came to stay with my brother because I did not have a choice. My father was already dead and my mother was very sick.  I’ve passed all my life in my brother’s family.  I had problems in my eyes, cataracts, but I thought it was not curable. Now I have clear vision and no problems. Thank you so much, to the Women’s Foundation and the kind doctor who helped me out of this problem. Thank you every one.”

“When I was 12 years old I had eye problems. I felt less capable in my class because I could not see clearly, but I couldn’t tell my teacher or my family what the problem was.  I thought every one saw the same way I did.  So, I could not study any further than 8th grade. Actually,I don’t even know when I first had cataracts in my eyes becauseI only came to know that I had cataracts 7 years ago. When I knew I needed to have an eye operation, it was the most terrible feeling because I knew I could not afford it. Now, I am so happy and thankful to the Women’s Foundation who helped me out of this problem to get the operation I needed. I am so glad that I have clear vision now.”

February 17 – 27,  2015

This February, in only ten days, 1700 people in Kathmandu were treated at a free eye clinic held atWFN and financed and staffed by GLS TreuhandGermanyand Vision for the Future – Germany.  Women, children and men of all ages came to be diagnosed and provided with medication and free eyeglasses. The camp was targeted at the many people in Nepal with untreated eye problems due to poverty and lack of access.  The team, consisting of Dr. Karl Brasse and Sister Anja,Wehrmeyer, and health team of  Netra JyotiSangh, provided eye exams and then performed successful operations on 79 cataract patients.  For people suffering from loss of vision and cataracts, this has made an enormous difference in their lives – now they can live happily and independently with their eyesight restored.