[grc] Fwd: [Asiapacific-general] Updates from Nepal as of May 13, 2015

[Frieda Werden]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Suman Basnet <suman_basnet at asiapacific.amarc.org>
Date: Wed, May 13, 2015 at 5:29 AM
Subject: Re: [Asiapacific-general] Updates from Nepal as of May 13, 2015
To: asiapacific-general at lists.amarc.org


*Please visit AMARC Asia Pacific Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMARC-Asia-Pacific/579244995449551
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMARC-Asia-Pacific/579244995449551> for
regular updates and photos. *


Dear colleagues and friends,


Nepal was hit by another major earthquake of 6.8 magnitudes on Tuesday, May
12, 2015. Some international agencies have reported the magnitude higher,
apparently owing to different ways of measuring. So far more than eight
thousand lives have perished and more 17 thousand are injured, mostly in 14
districts in central Nepal. Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts in the
foothills of the Himalayas were worst hit, with reports of major
landslides. At least 65 people lost lives and nearly 2,000 were hurt by
Tuesday's quake alone. Sadly, the figures could rise. Heavy tremors were
felt in northern India too, where at least 17 have been reported to
succumb.


Unfortunately, local radios that were already hit hard by the earlier
quakes, received another body blow. All houses and buildings in Dolakha
district were completely brought to ground including the local radios.
Reports about ground conditions are only emerging. Early assessments have
shown that there could be complete information black out in Dolakha and
some other districts owing to the crashing of the radios.


AMARC and ACORAB (Nepal’s national CR association), in collaboration with
several other media/radio organizations are collaborating to pull together
whatever support can be made available at a short notice. An informal radio
group has been formed consisting of national and international partners to
address the emergency situation. The group has been meeting regularly soon
after the first quake to gauge the situation and to respond in whatever way
possible. There is an overwhelming demand of tents and power
generators/fuel. For example, Krishi radio in the Dhading district is out
in the open after its building collapsed after yesterday’s jolt. It was
already in a precarious condition after the first quakes on 25th April.


Despite extremely adverse conditions, local broadcasters are displaying
amazing courage and zeal to resume broadcasting. They are playing a very
important role in informing survivors of the ongoing rescue and relief
operations. All kinds of ingenious ways are being devised by the radios to
engage with the local populations, which include connecting mobile phones
to loud speakers, community listening, setting up ad hoc studio in the open
- just to mention a few. In some of the districts, there are no private
operators. Hence the entire burden of maintaining flow of information has
fallen on the shoulders of community radios.


AMARC has appealed for help to rebuild quake affected community radios of
Nepal. Please visit: http://www.amarc.org/?q=nepal


I will be posting more information as soon as possible.


With warmest regards, Suman
____________
Suman Basnet
Regional Coordinator – AMARC Asia Pacific
*M:* +977 9851023499       *E:* suman_basnet at asiapacific.amarc.org
*Web:* http://asiapacific.amarc.org
*Postal address:* GPO Box no. 3887, Kathmandu, Nepal

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-- 
Frieda Werden, Series Producer
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
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