Red Cross providing access to clean water and sanitation, essential to Nepal relief efforts

As the relief operation continues in areas of central Nepal devastated by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, hundreds of thousands of families face the prospect of another night in the open air, fearful of returning to their homes due to aftershocks.

In this setting, access to drinking water is limited and there are sanitation challenges to overcome. There is a high risk of disease outbreaks, particularly diarrhea and respiratory infections. To stem this risk of disease, Red Cross workers are setting up prevention activities by providing access to clean water and promoting sanitation and hygiene.

"The big need on the ground is to deal with shelter, food and water," Canadian Red Cross Disaster Management team member Matthew Colling told CBC News.

"It's raining, it's in the middle of the monsoon season, so we're working to make sure we can provide adequate shelter. And of course, people are hungry, and they're in need of clean drinking water. A lot of the resources right now are dedicated to those emergency needs." Colling added: "When you've lost that ability to have a home and a safe place for family, that's where we can help out."

The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, will deliver assistance to at least 75,000 people affected by this devastating earthquake. So far, more than 9,000 tarps have been distributed to assist people living in the open.

The scarcity of safe drinking water is clearly seen in Kathmandu Valley as well as some of the other eight most affected districts. NRCS will focus on providing a safe water supply, as well as sanitation and hygiene promotion in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu Camp. Twenty small water treatment units have been ordered for the districts outside Kathmandu.

How the Red Cross Delivers  Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion:

• Setting up water distribution points in affected communities
• Distributing safe water in affected communities
• Reconstructing sanitation facilities
• Collaborating with partners to provide hygiene kits, hygiene promotion, and water storage containers

Donations are urgently needed in order to provide food, safe drinking water, emergency shelter and medical care. The Canadian Red Cross has deployed its field hospital and 25 aid workers to Nepal. The field hospital will help alleviate the strain on the local healthcare system.

Canadians are encouraged to support relief efforts in Nepal by donating to the Canadian Red Cross Nepal Region Earthquake Fund.

The Canadian government announced this week that it will be matching eligible donations from April 25 to May 25.