Irish aid agencies appeal for help for Nepal

Dóchas, the Irish umbrella group of development NGOs said 10 Irish aid agencies were on the ground in Nepal and had issued appeals for help. It encouraged people to donate money and volunteer their services to help the aid effort.

Goal chief executive Barry Andrews said hospitals were overrun and huge numbers of people had been left homeless and were sleeping rough. "Recovery teams are continuing to search desperately for survivors trapped in the rubble, a task that has been compounded by the fact that the entire city is without electricity.

“We have also received reports that a large number of villages on the outskirts of the capital have been completely flattened.”

Trócaire is working with the Caritas network of humanitarian agencies in Nepal. It is arranging for 2,000 shelters, 167,000 water purification tablets and 40,000 hygiene kits to be distributed in the coming days.

Plan Ireland's emergency response manager Dualta Roughneen said it was starting to rain and people were living outside with little or no shelter. "Children are crying, and health care facilities are overrun. We're working to co-ordinate aid in these areas, and prioritising the needs of children and the most vulnerable."

Oxfam Ireland said search and rescue was the initial priority "then providing water, food,medical care and shelter to the survivors". For details of how you can help see: howyoucanhelp.ie/ appeals/Nepal.html