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CMAT Emergency Alert: Nepal Earthquake – Update #6

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May 27, 2015 – Baluwa, Nepal

CMAT members meet with women and children of the Baluwa region in Nepal

CMAT members meet with women and children of the Baluwa region in Nepal

Media Sources along with CMAT logistics resources have all reported that a river in northwestern Nepal has been blocked by a landslide, causing the formation of an artifical lake approximately 2 km long.  Villages downstream are being evacuated, in case the landslide gives way.  CMAT can confirm that Team 2 is working in a village which is several hundred kilometres to the east of this site, and remains safe.

Team 2 has been busy treating basic primary care issues in Baluwa and trekking to surrounding villages to follow up on some more serious cases, but the need there is quickly returning to pre-earthquake levels.  The Health Cluster in Gorkha this week has also indicated that a particular neighbouring region was seeing a small surge of patients, and so CMAT sent a small strike team to this region to meet with the District Health representative.  Pending confirmation, CMAT will be transitioning to this new area to assist in the surge capacity.

CMAT Medical team 3 deployed earlier today to Nepal from Vancouver and Toronto. Team 3 team members include:

CMAT Nurses conduct a well-baby check up in Baluwa, Nepal.

CMAT Medical Volunteers conduct a well-baby check up in Baluwa, Nepal.

 

  • Dr. James Lee, MD and Team Leader; Edmonton, AB
  • Jill Allison, Logistics; St. John’s, NL 
  • Katie Dunham, RN; London, ON
  • Janna Hotson, RPN; Deep River, ON
  • Marie-Eve Pelchat, RN; Edmonton, AB
  • Dr. Rubert Kruhlak, MD; Edmonton, AB
  • Tracey Pugh, RN; Calgary, AB
  • Rebecca Morante, RN; Okotoks, AB
  • Dasha Johnston, RN; Edmonton, AB
  • Scott Haig, Paramedic, Vancouver, BC.

 

CMAT Team members have been trekking to high mountain villages, and through rice fields to deliver health care to patients who would otherwise go without.

CMAT Team members have been trekking to high mountain villages, and through rice fields to deliver health care to patients who would otherwise go without.

CMAT would like to extend our sincerest and most heartfelt thanks to all our donors and corporate/ organizational sponsors for helping make this deployment such a success.

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EMERGENCY ALERT: Earthquake in Nepal

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Rescuers rush to help victims of the devestating earthquake in Nepal - April 25, 2015

Rescuers rush to help victims of the devestating earthquake in Nepal – April 25, 2015 – courtesy Huffington Post Canada

April 25, 2015: Kathmandu, Nepal – A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the densely populated Kathmandu Valley in Nepal earlier today, killing thousands, and injuring thousands more. It is being recorded as the worst earthquake to hit the country in more than 80 years*, and the death toll continues to rise.

The quake cut off power and left entire homes, temples, and other structures in the area completely destroyed. Hospitals are at their capacity and many people have been forced to take to the streets, left with little or no means of communication.  Devastation from this disaster, which has been considered 16 times more powerful than the quake that shook Haiti in 2010*, has also shook the neighbouring countries of India and Bangladesh.

Nepal’s mountainous terrain will make relief efforts more challenging, and the full extent of destruction will only be known once rural areas outside Kathmandu can be reached.

CMAT has mobilized its assessment team which will be departing for Nepal shortly.  Depending on assessment findings, a call for volunteers may be placed for further support.

Help CMAT provide medical assistance for the Nepali people at this devastating time, when they are most at risk. Donate now, so that together, we can save lives.

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

CMAT is also collecting Air Canada Aeroplan miles to help offset the costs of volunteer flights.  You can donate your aeroplan miles here:

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*Source: CBC

Philippine Consul General to send off CMAT Assessment team, Wednesday for Philippines.

The CMAT Assessment Team is departing Wednesday for the Philippines.

The CMAT Assessment Team is departing Wednesday for the Philippines.

 

VANCOUVER  – CMAT will be deploying its initial disaster assessment team on Wednesday to respond to Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines late last week.  An emergency appeal for donations has been launched to help the people of the Philippines, after the catastrophic Typhoon struck the region on November 8, 2013. Several thousand people are estimated to have perished, and numbers are expected to climb.

The organization is also making an emergency appeal for donations to help the people of the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) estimates 11.3 million people are affected by Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda). A total of 673,042 people remain displaced (367,744 people in 1,217 evacuation centres and 305,298 people outside the centres).

On Wednesday morning at 10am, Consul General Mr. Neil Frank R. Ferrer is expected to meet and greet the CMAT Rapid Assessment Team, as they gather at Vancouver International Airport to check for their flight bound for the Philippines.

The Air Canada Foundation has generously donated the flights for the four CMAT assessment team members.

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CMAT Executive Director visits memorial for Chinese Earthquake victims

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CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka honoured the memory of those lost in the the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, by visiting the town of Beichuan, preserved as a memorial to the earthquake victims, and laying flowers on behalf of Canadians at the central memorial site.

CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka honoured the memory of those lost in the the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, by visiting the town of Beichuan, preserved as a memorial to the earthquake victims, and laying flowers on behalf of Canadians at the central memorial site.

May 27, 2010 – Beichuan County, Sichuan, China – CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka honoured the memory of those lost in the the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, by visiting the town of Beichuan, preserved as a memorial to the earthquake victims, and laying flowers on behalf of Canadians at the central memorial site. “Seeing the immensity of the destruction even now, two years later, is very emotional. There are children buried in the public school and entire families lost who will never be recovered.”

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