World Vision will provide families in northeast India with emergency supplies

World Vision responds to India earthquake

World Vision will provide families in northeast India with emergency supplies following a strong earthquake on Sunday (18 September).

The aid agency will provide rice, lentils, oil, vegetables and blankets to about 55 families in South Sikkim, one of the worst affected places.

World Vision has done an initial assessment in Kalimpong and South Sikkim and is still completing its work to decide where else it will respond.

Remote communities

The earthquake, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, hit the India–Nepal border on Sunday evening, local time. The death toll across the region has risen to more than 100, and hundreds more people are injured.

The affected areas are extremely difficult to reach as they are remote and roads are blocked by landslides. Heavy rain and fog are also hampering rescue efforts.

Families have taken shelter in a local primary school after the quake damaged their houses.

World Vision staff will be providing counselling to children who are in a state of shock and trauma.

"Most people are still under the fear that there will be more landslides and after shocks, and are sleeping outside under the open sky," said World Vision's Clement Songate.

Epicentre

In Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok, houses have been severely damaged and the death toll is expected to continue to rise as aid workers and the Indian army battle to reach remote communities.

The Indian Government is also airdropping food parcels in some of the badly affected areas that are unreachable by road.

The epicentre of the earthquake, Mangan, was only reached by rescue workers late on Tuesday (20 September).

World Vision's team is en route to the epicentre to complete an assessment of the situation, after which it will focus relief efforts in Mangan itself.

Disrupted telephone and mobile phone lines have now been restored, but the local administration in Sikkim is still working on resuming the electricity supply in many places.

Nepal

The earthquake also affected neighbouring Nepal. Latest government reports state that six people died, 89 were injured and over 200 houses destroyed in eight districts.

The government has offered compensation to families affected by the earthquake and free treatment for the injured.

21 September 2011