Nepal: Additional dead and wounded expected
Malteser International to establish field hospital in earthquake region
Malteser International is to establish a field hospital in the Sindhupalchok region of Nepal, near to the epicentre of the second severe earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the University Hospital in Dhulikel in order to bring aid more quickly to the wounded near Lamosanghu – located on an arterial road around 130 km north east of Kathmandu, and around 40 km from the Chinese border.
“It smells of decay. We are expecting to find more victims under the rubble,” said Dr. Marie Benner, leader of the Malteser International medical team. Up to 80% of the buildings in the area have been destroyed. “The people here are relieved that help is coming to them. Many have lost their whole existence – they have been wounded or they have lost relatives as a consequence of the earthquake,” she added. One woman reported that her husband had been severely injured by falling masonry from collapsing buildings during the first earthquake. Neighbours were able to take him to the hospital two hours away. When the second earthquake hit, she had nothing to lose. “Our house had already been destroyed,” she said.
Malteser International will take over the task of organising and supplying the medical station, where diagnosis and treatment, as well as small surgeries can be performed. Dr. Gudrun Müller and paramedic Tobias Kann from Malteser International will form the medical establishment of the field hospital, together with staff and nurses from the University Hospital in Dhulikel.
Malteser International is also distributing food and hygiene material to the population of 12 villages in the region, with around 10,000 people receiving the much-needed aid. We are calling urgently for further donations to help the survivors of the disaster.
You can donate by:
– Direct Deposit: BSB: 012 003 Account#: 3796 09856 Name: Order of Malta. Please email remittance to accounts@orderofmalta.org.au
– By Post: Cheques payable to ‘The Order of Malta’ and sent to: Nepal Appeal, The Order of Malta, 33 – 37 West Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
– Online: Through our Paypal donation facility
Donations $2 and more are of course tax deductible. Please give what you can.
Thank you for your support
About Malteser International:
Malteser International is the humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta. With over 100 projects annually in some 25 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, Malteser International has been standing by those affected by poverty, disease, conflict and disaster, helping them lead a healthy life with dignity – without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles build the foundation of its work. For more information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.int
Related articles:
Nepal: Another severe earthquake – Epicentre in Malteser International project area
Earthquake in Nepal: Two weeks after – video update
