Providing medical aid, distributing water, and rescuing people isolated by washed-away bridges and roads. That and more are what aid organizations want to do to help the people in Nepal and Tibet, but they are not managing well. Various problems threaten the relief efforts.
At least 538 people have died in Nepal due to the disaster. In Tibet, five deaths have been reported so far. The death toll is expected to rise significantly, as many residents and tourists are still missing. The Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people have been affected by the disaster in total. The aid organization is sounding the alarm about help for them.
The biggest concern of the Red Cross is the condition of people in areas that have still not been reached. Aid workers can only reach those affected by helicopter because roads and bridges have been destroyed.
'Hospital Has Been Washed Away'
Jimi Oostrum lives in Nepal and is an education specialist at Unicef, which provides aid to children. "The very first thing we must do is ensure that children are safe," he says to NOS. The aid organization does this by providing shelter and clean drinking water to children and their parents. Medical aid is also urgently needed, Oostrum explains. "The hospital that stood by the river is gone."
In addition, Unicef tries to reunite children with their parents. "In all the panic caused by the flood wave, many people ran up into the hills," Oostrum says. "My colleague spoke with a family that searched for each other for hours because they all ran in different directions." Fortunately, the family members found each other again, Oostrum says, but many children and parents are still missing. "We do not know if they are high up in the hills or if they were swept away by the water."
Difficult Conditions
What also does not help: there is no electricity and telephone connections are down. Because of this, people in the disaster area cannot contact family members, a Red Cross spokesperson sketches the difficult conditions.
In addition, there is fear of a new flood wave. On both sides of the border, new flooding threatens. At this moment, several mountain lakes in the area are filling with water. One of those lakes has been overflowing since this morning, causing the water level of the Trishuli River to rise rapidly. Rescue operations had to be temporarily halted because of this.
Although aid resumed three hours later, the danger has not yet passed. For example, much rain is expected in the area in the coming days. Nepal says the threat is only over when the lakes are empty. Both Nepal and China are now closely monitoring the lakes.
Meanwhile, international aid is getting underway. The EU has provided, among other things, a satellite system to assist rescue workers. India is sending helicopters and relief supplies. Furthermore, the Chinese army is helping with drones and transport planes.
The Netherlands also wants to help Nepal, says Minister Berendsen of Foreign Affairs. "Through international organizations, we contribute," he says. The Netherlands provides money to, for example, the Red Cross and the United Nations, which can then assist in disasters. Such organizations often work with local teams.
Rescue Teams Not Welcome
But not all offered aid is welcome, according to Berendsen. He wants to do more to help the affected area, especially regarding search and rescue operations. But Nepal has not yet requested help. The country says no foreign aid is needed for the search.
Other countries are also struggling with Nepal's attitude. According to Nepalese media, India, China, the US, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have asked the Nepalese government to allow their rescue teams. According to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal has refused so far.
Although Nepal rejects much foreign aid, Berendsen finds it "very important that we watch internationally and exert pressure to offer help." The minister says he is looking with the international community to see if there is still a way to help. "The destruction is enormous. We see the damage and the problems are not over."