Nepal – Earthquake Fact Sheet #13, Fiscal Year (FY) 2015

The total number of fatalities from the April 25 earthquake and aftershocks is nearly 8,500, with more than 16,800 people injured. The number of houses damaged or destroyed by the earthquake and aftershocks increased significantly in recent days, with the Government of Nepal reporting nearly 749,000 damaged and destroyed houses on May 15, compared to approximately 543,000 houses reported on May 8-13. The April 25 earthquake and aftershocks have affected 39 of Nepal's 75 districts, with 14 districts in Central and Western regions identified as the most-affected. Prior to the May 12 aftershock, the humanitarian community had prioritized Dhading, Gorkha, and Sindhupalchowk districts for assistance, but the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes that Dolakha and potentially Sindhuli districts may also require prioritization following the aftershock. Humanitarian agencies report receiving limited information from some earthquake-affected areas and caution that casualty and damage figures will likely continue to fluctuate in the coming weeks as relief actors conduct assessments and access remote areas. The Government of Nepal reports that the number of houses destroyed by the earthquake and aftershocks increased by 66 percent from May 8 to May 15, with the current total of approximately 488,500 houses. Additionally, the number of houses reported as damaged increased by more than 6,000 houses between May 8 and 15, with the current total of more than 260,000 houses. Relief organizations report requiring additional assessment data to fully understand the shelter needs and response gaps. The Shelter Cluster, comprising UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders, is revising its targets and exploring options, such as cash-based assistance, to more effectively meet the increased needs. The US Government has provided more than $34 million for earthquake response and recovery efforts in Nepal, supporting urgent shelter and WASH needs, as well as humanitarian coordination, logistics, and the distribution of relief commodities. Other international donors have provided more than $156 million in humanitarian assistance for Nepal, including nearly $66.3 million towards Nepal's $423 million flash appeal. The US Department of Defense has made available up to $22.5 million for the Nepal earthquake response.