AWO International is a German INGO, affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) of the Government of Nepal and has an own office in Nepal since 2009. In 2015 five long term development projects are implemented in context of livelihood promotion, safe migration and human trafficking. These projects are implemented by the National NGOs POURAKHI, MAITI Nepal, SAHAMATI, NEEDS Nepal, and SPACE and financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
After the Earthquake AWO International started immediately with preparations for a relief project and started distribution within one week. Till date tarpaulins, mattresses, medicines, water purifier and other goods were distributed to 2000 households in Sindhupalchowk and to selected hardly hit families in Nawalparasi and Kathmandu District in coordination with AWO International partner organizations PHASE Nepal, SAHAMATI, MAITI Nepal and POURAKHI. Experts of the partner NEEDS Nepal assist the relief efforts. Existing social structures and staffs of ongoing projects are utilized to bring the relief goods there where they are needed most.
Nearly 30.000 people will be reached by various relief interventions that are financed by the emergency fund of AWO International, private donors, funds from the “German Relief Coalition (ADH)” such as “Volkshilfe” in coordination with the Austrian Relief Coalition “Nachbar in Not”.
Eight out of 22 heavy trucks carrying qualitative relief materials (hygiene and dignity kits, tarpaulins and printed usage messages, mattresses and blankets, cooking equipment, clothes and other non food items) for 3200 households already arrived in Sindhupalchowk, where the relief materials will be distributed in Fulpingkatti, Tatopani, Jethal, Thumpakhar and Thulo Pakhar VDCs in coordination with local authorities and committees. The supplies from India were managed by help of AWO International partner organization MSS Seva.
In the upcoming weeks AWO International will organize the distribution of CGI-Kits including tool boxes for 1000 households and assist the construction of locally adapted mid-term shelters.
Trafficking and forced migration is an alarming upcoming development. Middlemen already try to convince women and girls in camps to join foreign employment and education. Many women and girls might be victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Since three weeks AWO International’s Indian partner, MSS Seva, implements various awareness measures at the Nepali-Indian Border in Sunauli. Together with MAITI Nepal and POURAKHI awareness publications will be developed and distributed soon and protection measures will be implemented in camps and boarder stations between Nepal, India and China.
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Further Information: Felix Neuhaus, Country Director, felix.neuhaus(at)awointernational.de