London Based Charity International Development Enterprises UK Mobilises Nepal Staff to Join Earthquake Relief Efforts

LONDON, May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

London based charity International Development Enterprises (iDE) UK is working with iDE Nepal to mobilise its 86-person team to direct emergency relief to rural areas of Nepal in the aftermath of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that has left over 5000 people dead. The iDE team, which is dedicated to improving agriculture and providing water and sanitation systems, is assessing how and where to most effectively meet the emergency needs of the rural farmers with whom it works.

On Tuesday the team brought enough food for one week and plastic for shelter to the village of Ranagaun. This was the first assistance they had received despite being in close proximity to Kathmandu. On Wednesday the team delivered food, chlorine for safe drinking water and plastic sheeting to the village of Tanke in the Kavre district, just to the east of Kathmandu.

"There are many more villages in the areas where we work with immediate needs that we are working to assist. The support of donors is critical to these efforts," said Luke Colavito, iDE country director for Nepal.  "We are seeing many people who have lost their homes and are living out in the open, despite the rain, wind and cold temperatures."

iDE's team of engineers and technicians is immediately focused on gathering and sharing knowledge of the situation in remote villages with its network of partners on the ground. The goal is to determine how the groups can best work together to meet the most pressing needs. iDE's network of partners in Nepal includes both large and small organizations, from disaster relief organizations such as Mercy Corps, to small local organizations run by Nepalese, such as SAPPROS.

"Our team on the ground reports that the situation is chaotic and dire in some areas, particularly in many of the rural villages where we work that are currently cut off from assistance. We are trying to do all we can to raise funds to support iDE Nepal with the relief effort," said Lucy Hayter, Chief Executive of iDE UK.

iDE has deep roots in Nepal, where it has worked for 23 years. The organization has particularly strong connections with the poorest of the poor who live in remote corners of the country, where transportation is normally difficult, and many roads are now blocked.

iDE has launched an appeal through The Big Give where any donation made is DOUBLED:

https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/22823/nepal-earthquake-appeal

Short Link: http://goo.gl/524ngk

Donations can also be made through iDE's website: http://www.ide-uk.org 

ABOUT iDE 

iDE is an international non-profit organization dedicated to creating income and livelihood opportunities for the rural poor. For more than 31 years, iDE has created innovative solutions to development problems, through products, services, and business models. iDE has impacted more than 20 million people globally to date through its agriculture, water and sanitation interventions. http://www.ide-uk.org

Contact
Lucy Hayter
lucy.hayter@ide-uk.org
+44-(0)78245-05590