http://www.world-psi.org/en/nepal-needs-your-help Last Saturday's
earthquake devastated the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu and surrounding areas as
well as affecting neighbouring countries, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and
China. More than 3,600 people have died with a further 6,500 injured, according
to Nepalese officials. The death toll is expected to rise sharply, with
hundreds of thousands of people having lost their homes, and could potentially
exceed 15,000 according to certain aid agencies. Women, children and elderly
people sit outside in the cold and wind, while numerous people are still buried
and dying under the collapsed buildings.
The immediate priority now is to
provide emergency shelter to those left homeless by the earthquake, as well as
water and sanitation.
PSI affiliates in Nepal have already started
carrying out relief work and PSI has donated from the Asia Pacific Fund.
“We must continue to make it a
priority to work together to pressure governments and the United Nations to increase investment in emergency services and skills training.
Governments and UN agencies must involve public service workers, increase
training, improve health and safety standards, and improve facilities,
equipment and communications for the workers dealing with these calamities.
Again and again we are proved correct in our arguments, when these disasters
take huge tolls of human lives and livelihoods while governments remain
inactive” said Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary.
PSI extends its solidarity and
sincere condolences to PSI union members, their families and communities who
have experienced trauma or losses caused by the serious earthquakes in Nepal on
24 April.
PSI calls on all affiliates to
contribute and help our sisters and brothers in Nepal to respond to the most
urgent needs. Funds will also be used to support and increase the capacity of
the public sector unions to intervene in public policy space for a stronger
disaster management response and better investment in human resources and
reconstruction.
Please send your financial
contributions to the PSI Aid Fund clearly labelled “PSI
Aid Fund Nepal 2015”
PSI’s offices in Singapore and India will be monitoring the
situation closely in collaboration with our sisters and brothers in Nepal,
India and Bangladesh.
For more information:
·
See PSI’s solidarity letter
·
See how to
contribute to the PSI Aid Fund