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Press Releases & Updates

26 APR 2015

Nepal earthquake causes devastating damage Oxfam rushing life-saving aid to affected areas

A devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April, 2015, causing widespread damage and casualties. This is the strongest earthquake that has hit Nepal in 80 years. Our team in Nepal is assessing the humanitarian needs and preparing supplies to provide survivors with clean water, sanitation and emergency food.

 

The epicentre is close to the capital, Kathmandu. Over a thousand people have been killed and many more feared trapped under rubble as a large number of houses and buildings have collapsed. The number of casualties is expected to rise. The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. The earthquake has also caused damage to surrounding areas including Tibet, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.   

A team of Oxfam’s technical experts are flying from the UK to provide support. A team of Oxfam’s technical experts are flying from the UK to provide support. Another team from Gansu, China, together with our partner organisations are also leaving for Tibet to assess the humanitarian needs there.

Cecilia Keizer, Oxfam country director in Nepal said, ‘Communication is currently very difficult. Telephone lines are down and the electricity has been cut off making charging mobile phones difficult. The water is also cut off. The number of people killed is continuing to rise. Many of the old houses have been destroyed and at least one large apartment block has come down in Kathmandu. Given the closeness to the epicentre, Pokhara must also be badly affected. Oxfam is preparing to help provide clean water and emergency food. People are gathered in their thousands in open spaces and are scared as there have been several aftershocks.’

Oxfam has been working in Nepal since the 1980s. We are now raising funds to respond to those affected by the devastating earthquake in the country. Oxfam Hong Kong is backing this appeal by aiming to raise HK$2 million to support disaster relief work.

Donation methods for Oxfam’s Nepal Earthquake Emergency Response are as follows: 

Donations can be transferred to the various bank accounts of Oxfam Hong Kong:

Hong Kong

  • HSBC: 001-6-331860
  • Bank of China: 012-874-0-010515-7
  • Hang Seng Bank: 284-401080-003
  • OCBC Wing Hang Bank : 035-802-862123-001

 

Macau (MOP)

  • Bank of China Macau: 01-01-20-840951
  • OCBC Weng Hang: 743342-001
  • Banco Tai Fung: 201-1-10056-9
  • ICBC Macau: 0119100200005410616
  • BNU Macau: 9012625045

(Please send this form with the original bank receipt and write ‘Nepal Earthquake’ on the back)

 

Other donation methods: 

 

 

 

 

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About Oxfam
Oxfam is a worldwide development organisation that mobilises the power of people against poverty.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Chu (Senior Communications Officer)
Telephone: + 852 3120 5280 / + 852 9276 0064
Email: 
sarah.chu@oxfam.org.hk

Clara Law (Assistant Communications Officer)
Telephone: + 852 3120 5272/ + 852 6088 8930
Email: clara.law@oxfam.org.hk 

A devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April, 2015, causing widespread damage and casualties. Oxfam is assessing the humanitarian needs and preparing supplies to provide survivors with clean water, sanitation and emergency food. Photo credit: EPA / Narendra Shrestha

Photo credit: EPA / Narendra Shrestha