Appeal for Earthquake Survivors

Psychological First Aid (PFA) to Earthquake Survivors

The Mega Earthquake on April 25, 2015 and its sequel have affected the lives of over 13 million people in 33 districts. Out of 14 severely affected districts, CMC Nepal has mobilized its staff in delivering Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) in eleven districts: Kathamandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Sindhupalchok and Gorkha, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Kavre, Dolakha, Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga, where the lives of over four million people are severely affected in terms of human casualties (Eight thousand killed and injured over 16 thousand), destruction of public & private properties and heritage.

People who have lost their beloved or kin or partner and properties, are suffering acute reactions affecting their daily life. Over 1.3 million children under 18 years old and over eight hundred thousand women are severely affected in 11 districts. Many individuals and community, especially children and women are experiencing acute stress and fear. The updates in news tell more about immediate relief work by providing food, medicines and non-food items, and physical treatment. The mental health and psychological support is not yet being provided in an organized manner for survivors. Even basic level psychosocial support is not yet available for the affected communities including children, women and persons with disability. So people are severely affected with no support or very little support thereby living in highly distressing situation (post earthquake situation).

In first week of intervention, over 300 people mostly women and 100 children directly benefited from PFA organized by CMC-Nepal in Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Gorkha and Dhading. PFA will be provided in group and family level and also at individual level if necessary. Volunteers will be selected in the affected community comprising teachers, youth, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), user’s committee members, active members in the community so that they can provide PFA support to the affected survivors of earthquake. PFA volunteers are sensitized specially for the psychosocial situation of the children, women and person with disability affected by this disaster. In the first stage CMC-Nepal will continue to work on PFA approach from May-July 2015 (three months). PFA is provided in the group of 15 – 20 persons. It has helped in healing of people suffering from grief, fear, trauma, anxiety. In-time support to earthquake survivors helps in normalization of daily activities and professional life. This service will be extended to other six districts second week of May.

Based on the progress on the stability of the affected people and assessment of further intervention needs during the present three months, CMC-Nepal will develop second phase proposal, which mainly includes training and supervision of psychosocial counsellor, who then provide psychosocial support and counselling to the more affected cases (cases with PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, GBV etc).

Appeal
CMC Nepal APPEALS individuals’ and organizations’ support and financial assistance for PFA, intangible support but is a great help in healing and normalization of life. Your small but generous help can make a difference in the lives of earthquake survivors. One event of group session costs 10,000 rupees (Approx. 115 US Dollars) exclusive of salaries of psychologists, counsellors and logistics.

Survivors have been receiving relief materials but majority of them have not yet received it, coupled with safety, security and personal hygiene. It has triggered their stress and psychological turmoil. A minimal support for immediate relief materials; food items and non-food items, helps survivors in healing of their psychological distress. So we also appeal to all for a small support to the survivors for relief materials which go along with the Psychological First Aid. Your financial support can be sent through bank details as given below:

Bank details
Account Name: CMC-Nepal
Account Number: 01400501004086
Bank Swift Code/BIC number(if known): EVBLNPKA
Currency of Bank Account: NPR
Name of Bank: Everest Bank
Address of Bank: Lazimpat, Kathmandu NEPAL