We Need Your Help. Nepal Earthquake

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-26/international-aid-and-rescue-teams-head-to-quake-hit-nepal/6422780

International aid groups and governments have escalated efforts to dispatch rescuers and supplies to earthquake-hit Nepal, but severed communications and landslides in the Himalayan nation posed formidable challenges to the relief effort.

As the death toll passed 1,900 in Nepal the US together with several European and Asian nations sent emergency crews to reinforce those scrambling to find survivors in the devastated capital, Kathmandu, and rural areas cut off by blocked roads and patchy phone networks.

"Roads have been damaged or blocked by landslides and communication lines are down, preventing us from reaching local Red Cross branches to get accurate information," said Jagan Chapagain, Asia Pacific director of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The IFRC said it was extremely concerned about the fate of rural villages close to the epicentre of the quake, some 80 kilometres from Kathmandu.

"We anticipate that there will be considerable destruction and loss of life," Mr Chapaign added.

Other aid organisations responding to the emergency also struggled to assess requirements across the nation, and spoke of the fearsome effects of the quake.

"We witnessed terrible scenes of destruction, hospitals were evacuated with patients being treated on the ground outside, homes and buildings demolished and some roads cracked wide open," said Eleanor Trinchera, Caritas Australia Program Coordinator for Nepal.

Although mobile networks appeared to be being restored by mid-afternoon on Sunday, Plan International's Mike Bruce said, coverage remained sporadic.

"People are sleeping on the streets and cooking outside for the most part. And we are talking about very, very poor areas of Nepal — areas that are already suffering a great deal," Mr Bruce said.

The Australian Government said it was organising to send an Australian Crisis Response Team to Nepal as soon as possible.

It has also given $5 million in assistance to Australian NGOs, UN agencies and the Australian Red Cross.

World reaches out with sympathy, resources

US secretary of state John Kerry said the United States was working closely with the Nepal government to provide assistance.

"To the people in Nepal and the region affected by this tragedy we send our heartfelt sympathies," he said.

A US disaster response team was en route to Nepal and an initial $US1 million in aid to address immediate needs had been authorised, the US Agency for International Development said.

Neighbouring India dispatched two military transport planes to help with the rescue and relief efforts as it emerged that at least 53 people had died there from the effects of the massive quake.

There were similar offers from around the region, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and, further afield, Japan.

China said it had dispatched a 62-member search and rescue team with sniffer dogs and had started work on an emergency humanitarian aid plan, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Chinese state media said 17 people had also been killed by the earthquake in Tibet.

Singapore's government said its Civil Defence Force was to send a 55-man search-and-rescue team while members of country's armed forces would also support the relief efforts with deployment of "suitable resources".

The European Union said its humanitarian experts were heading to the crisis areas.

"The full extent of the casualties and damage is still unknown but reports indicate they will likely be high, both in terms of loss of life, injuries and damage to cultural heritage," an EU statement said.

Others considering what help they could provide included Malaysia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Germany, Britain and Spain also pledged support and assistance, with Norway promising to provide $US3.9 million in humanitarian aid.

British prime minister David Cameron said the earthquake was "shocking news" and vowed his country, which swiftly sent a team of humanitarian experts to Nepal, "will do all we can to help those caught up in it."

Israel also said it was sending an aid delegation to Nepal, including a team of paramedics and doctors.

Charity Christian Aid launched an appeal for funds and said it was working with partner agencies to reach the worst hit areas.

"It's clear from what has emerged so far that there is an urgent need for emergency shelters, food and clean drinking water, warm clothing blankets and hygiene kits," said the group's regional emergency manager Ram Kishan in a statement.

Viber offers quake victims free int'l calls

Source: http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/viber-offers-quake-victims-free-int-l-calls-2015-04-26-1.588617

Viber has allowed its power starved users in Nepal to make free outgoing calls, even as the country suffers from disconnected communication lines and severe shortage of po

wer as a result of the sever earthquake.

The company also said that it would soon announce a decision to make inbound calls to Nepal free as well.

In response to a tweet about making calls to Nepal free the Viber said, “Free inbound Viber Out calls to Nepal will be available soon as well.”

Earlier, the company had announced that it has made all outgoing calls originating from Nepal free to help the earthquake survivors reach out to their family and friends.

Viber tweeted its announcement saying, “In response to the earthquake in Nepal, we have switched off Viber Out billing so Nepal users can call any destination for free.”

Soon after the announcement, there were demands that Viber make inbound calls free as well.

“Thanks but how about making calls to Nepali number from outside Nepal? Can’t you make that free?” said one of the comments. 

“Can you please make calls TO Nepal free as well?,” commented one user. 

Viber, a popular VOiP service, can be accessed over a smartphone or desktop, provided users have an Internet  data connection or are connected to wi-fi.

Power networks across Nepal are down and most smartphones users are having difficulty even recharging their devices.

Telecom providers in India had on Saturday announced that it is allowing free calls to Nepal in the aftermath of the earthquake. Airtel on Saturday announced that it is allowing free calls to Nepal on its network over the next 48 hours, while other providers such as the government owned BSNL and MTNL said it would slash the international call rates and instead charge local rates to all calls made to Nepal for three days