Nepal Earthquake - Emergency Food Assistance - World Food Programme 2015

May 2015 – On 25 April an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hit Nepal near the capital city of Kathmandu. The government has reported that 30 out of 75 districts are affected in the Western and Central Regions including districts in Kathmandu Valley. The epicentre is located 81 km northwest of Kathmandu. A number of large aftershocks have occurred since the first earthquake. To date over 5 000 deaths have been confirmed and over 11 000 people have been injured. These figures are expected to increase as more information becomes available. With the support of DFATD and other donors the World Food Programme (WFP) is helping to meet the emergency food needs of up to 1.4 million earthquake-affected people in Nepal. Project activities include: (1) providing emergency food assistance to earthquake-affected households; (2) providing targeted nutrition assistance for children under-five and pregnant and lactating women; and (3) coordinating food security and livelihoods activities and assessments.

The expected outcomes for this project are: (1) improved access to food for earthquake-affected people; (2) reduced acute malnutrition among children under-five and pregnant and lactating women; and (3) enhanced coordination of the response. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.