URGENT APPEAL: Another major earthquake strikes Nepal

We’ve just received terrible news: another powerful earthquake has struck Nepal. This comes just over two weeks after a massive earthquake rocked the country, killing at least 8,000 people and devastating many areas of the country. We need you. Details are still emerging but we are already hearing reports of dozens dead and hundreds injured. Many areas that had already seen widespread destruction have sustained further damage. This is truly devastating. It’s hard for me to imagine what it must be like for the children and their families who were barely starting to recover from the earthquake just weeks ago. The need for help is greater than ever. Kent Page, a colleague who is currently working in Nepal, shared this with us earlier today: We were all inside the school building at the time when there was a loud noise as the building started violently shaking. It took a second or two to realize what was happening but then we ran for the door. We gathered quickly outside in a small courtyard and the violent shaking continued and didn’t stop for perhaps a minute, but it seemed much longer. We are very concerned about the impact of this second earthquake in just over two weeks on the children of Nepal, particularly on their psychosocial well-being. Going through an earthquake is a terrifying experience for anyone, and perhaps more particularly children. UNICEF continues to work around the clock to support 1.7 million children affected now by two earthquakes in Nepal through our emergency health, nutrition, child protection, water, sanitation and education. We thank everyone who has supported UNICEF’s work in Nepal – there is still a lot of work to do here for the Nepali children. If you haven’t already made a donation, please consider giving today. Any donations made by May 25 will be matched by the Government of Canada, meaning your gift today will have double the impact. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates as we learn more. On behalf of the children and their families in Nepal, thank you. Sincerely, David Morley President & CEO, UNICEF Canada