Following the Nepal earthquake in April, 2015, DRI Foundation donors raised more than $20,000 to assist Water Mission in its response. Stewardship Manager Ken Garber provided an update on how your funding has helped:
- The 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing over 8,000 people and injuring twice as many.
- The quake caused more than 4.2 million people to suffer from inadequate food and water supplies, including a very real threat of a cholera outbreak.
- Within 24 hours, Water Mission had staff in Nepal assessing 33 displacement camps, mountainous villages, rural communities and hospitals.
- Support from organizations like the DRI Foundation helped supply 14 treatment projects and supply 19,262 people with access to safe water.
- Water Mission staff focused on areas of high volume water needs, marginalized groups that were ignored due to logistical access constraints, and areas where its technical engineering expertise was needed.
- Water Mission staff trained locals in sustainability management and worked to convert diesel-powered water treatment systems to solar power.
- In the first quarter of 2017, much of the equipment from Water Missions set up for disaster relief was converted to community managed projects for ongoing safe water production.
- As of 2017, a safe water system has been permanently installed at a hospital in the region.
Thanks once again to all of our donors, who make our mission of developing resilient communities worldwide possible, for making 2017 such an impactful year. Be sure to check back with this site to see how your donations are being effectively used.