Manisha UK focusses on Education, Healthcare and Sustainability, it is not a front line disaster relief organisation. However, at this time of crisis we all need to pull together in a coordinated manner and ensure that in continuing to meet our longer term goals we are also helping address the immediate needs of the communities we support.
Below you will see the latest update from our supported communities; what Manisha UK plans as part of its Disaster Response and how you can help us to help these poor rural communities recover and prepare for the future.
|
School | Damage |
Shree Himalaya Primary, Mahcahap | The school now has major damage which may cause the school to collapse if not addressed ahead of the Monsoon season. |
Ganodaya Secondary School, Okhaldhunga | Two class rooms in the newest building have suffered lots of cracks, which could cause collapse if not addressed. |
Shree Rakama Devi, Jheksang | Has sustained a large number of cracks in the older building making it unsafe for use in it's current state. |
Shree Bhagwati Lower Secondary, Bhalebas | The library and 3 classrooms have been damaged with significant cracks which need addressing. |
Jandeep Secondary School, Dumre | 3 classrooms have minor cracks and 2 have major cracks making them unsafe, and vulnerable to collapse during the Monsoon season. |
Batase School, Gorkha | This school already required a rebuild following the first earthquake, but the situation has been further exacerbated by the second earthquake. |
Update (17th May) ...
Update (4th May) ...
Following the devastating earthquake in Nepal, many of our friends and supporters have enquired how our schools and communities have fared, under the most difficult conditions imaginable.
As you will appreciate, it has been difficult to gain access to all the information we would like, particularly given the remote nature of some of the schools. However, the table below summarises the current situation.
Our local team in Nepal, although affected themselves, have now been able to visit several of our schools and make an initial assessment. They observed a great deals of cracks and other damage, which needs proper assessment by engineers ahead of the monsoon season. This is now one of our primary focuses. We are hoping our local team will be able to visit all nine Palpa schools over the next week.
In the meantime, we have at least had some word from each school, which is very encouraging. While the situation is much better than we had initially feared, all communities have been affected in some way. However, Batase school in Gorkha District, is very close to the epicentre, so we anticipate severe damage to village buildings, water supplies and sanitation.
Clearly, the situation is very fluid and subject to change over the coming days, particularly in the event of any further aftershocks. So please check back regularly for updates.
Updates are now also available via Facebook and Twitter.
School |
Fatalities / Injuries |
School Building |
School Open |
Other Buildings |
Water & Sanitation |
Bhalebas |
None reported |
Safe, cracks |
Yes |
Severe |
OK |
Pipaldanda |
None reported |
Safe, minor cracks |
Unknown |
Severe |
Not yet assessed |
Gyanodaya, Okhaldhunga |
None reported |
Safe, no damage known |
Yes |
No damage reported |
Not yet assessed |
Basanta, Bagnas |
None reported |
Safe, no damage known |
Yes |
No damage reported |
Not yet assessed |
Batase |
None reported |
Old building destroyed |
No |
At least 12 homes destroyed |
Not yet assessed |
Jheksang |
None reported |
Safe, small cracks |
Yes |
No damage reported |
Not yet assessed |
Amrit, Anghakhola |
None reported |
Safe, one wall damaged |
Yes |
Unknown |
Not yet assessed |
Mahachap |
None reported |
Unsafe, severe damage |
No |
Unknown |
Not yet assessed |
Dumre |
None reported |
Safe, some cracks |
Yes |
No damage reported |
Not yet assessed |
Kolkal |
2 Local women killed repairing roads |
Safe |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Not yet assessed |
Manisha UK Disaster Recovery Response ...
Having made an initial assessment of needs, the Trustees of Manisha UK believe our current priorities and plans should be as follows:
- Short term (May/June):
- Provide funding for bottled water supplies to communities that have had normal filtered spring-water supplies disrupted.
- Initiate communications and fund raising programmes to help meet the cost of our plans.
- Ensure schools are opened up as community support centres, wherever possible.
- Undertake full assessment of water supply disruption to all 10 supported communities.
- Undertake full assessment of disruption to sanitation facilities of all 10 supported communities.
- Undertake full assessment of school damage in all 10 supported communities.
- Assess likelihood that 2015/16 Manisha UK NQT Teacher Training Programme can go ahead and with what priorities.
- Help raise awareness within front line aid organisations of the plight of the communities we support.
- Medium term (2015):
- Initiate school repair programme for those schools with minor structural damage in conjunction with local businesses.
- Initiate water supply repair programmes, possibly in conjunction with Rotary International and/or Gurkha Welfare Foundation.
- Initiate sanitation facility repair programmes, possibly in conjunction with Rotary International and/or Gurkha Welfare Foundation.
- Initiate major fund raising programme for rebuild of any schools in our supported communities that are beyond repair.
- Understand whether any Nepalese governmental support for school rebuild is likely.
- Understand what can be / should be done to rebuild / repair buildings to minimize the effect of future earthquakes
- Continue with 2015/16 NQT Teacher Training Programme, if possible and with amended priorities/outcomes
- Longer term (2016):
- Initiate school rebuild programme for school buildings that are beyond repair
- Develop an action plan for future disasters
- Reinstate/continue 2016/17 NQT Teacher Training Programme.
The Children and Communities We support Need Your Help ...
Some of our UK twinned schools and other supporters of Manisha UK, have already started fundraising, or are planning to do so.
We urge anyone who wishes to help our supported communities to recover from this terrible natural disaster, to please make a donation in one of the following ways:
- Online donation at the Manisha UK Virgin Money Giving page.
- Text donation of £10 by texting TEXT21 £10 to telephone number 70070, you will receive a confirmation text and request to approve gift aid.
- Cheque made out to Manisha UK and sent to Old Moat Barn, Dormston Lane, Dormston, Worcs. WR7 4JX (Please enclose name, address and approval to gift aid).
Many thanks, your support is very much appreciated. As always, a little goes a long way in Nepal!