28 April 2015

A massive earthquake hit Nepal this weekend, leaving thousands dead and many more thousands injured.

In Kathmandu hospitals are overwhelmed, water and electricity are cut off, and people are sleeping in the streets for fear of further quakes.

The First Minister has announced that we stand with the international community and will do what we can to help, which is why the Scottish Government will donate £250,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee in Scotland’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

The funding will be allocated to Disasters Emergency Committee members in Nepal who will provide immediate aid to those affected by the earthquake and in time, will assist the people of Nepal begin the long road back to normality.

Many other organisations who operate in Scotland have already been helping and I would like to extend my thanks to them as well and the five Scottish Fire and Rescue Service officers from Aberdeen are to be deployed to Nepal to help with the recovery operation.

DEC member agencies and their partners are working urgently to provide emergency shelter, food, clean water and blankets.  Once immediate, life-saving needs are met they will work with individuals, families and communities to support them to rebuild their lives.

Although the Scottish Government is supporting the efforts of these charities, the DEC need further support to deal with the emergency as it unfolds, and the extent of the devastation becomes clearer.

Donations are being accepted via the DEC website and the 24-hour donations line: www.dec.org.uk or 0370 60 60 900.

Click here to read a blog from Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for Europe & International Development