Hilton Prize Laureates Focus on Disaster Relief, Recovery and Resiliency in the Wake of Nepal Earthquake

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hilton Prize Laureates – an independent alliance of the 19 winners of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Prize – are actively working together to respond to the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal. With more than 6.6 million people affected by the 7.9 magnitude quake, many Laureate organizations were on the ground immediately working together to deliver critically important humanitarian services to those impacted. Guided by the principles of collective impact, the Laureates are in continuous communication providing each other status updates, articulating urgent needs on the ground and coordinating strategies across organizations via the Secretariat – Global Impact – in Washington, D.C.

From providing medical and psychosocial services to the populations affected to supporting local institutions as they respond to the devastation caused by the earthquake, the Laureate organizations are actively involved in the provision of emergency relief services. In the longer term, many Laureate organizations will remain engaged in rebuilding efforts while also helping local communities increase resiliency against future natural disasters. To date, Laureate activities include:

• BRAC: Sending a team of doctors, emergency response specialists and public health experts from nearby Bangladesh to assist survivors, provide medical treatment, and distribute 5,000 - 10,000 blankets as well as food and medical supplies. BRAC will provide three stages of relief: immediate medical support, rehabilitation, and longer-term livelihood assistance.
• Clubhouse International: Distributing food and supplies to many people in need through the Grameen Clubhouse.
• Fountain House: Assisting in the effort to ensure victims have food and water.
• Handicap International (HI): Triaging patients and distributing wheelchairs and supplies at Kathmandu's two main hospitals within three hours of the earthquake. Now expanded to four hospitals, HI teams will continue to provide medical equipment, post-trauma rehabilitation, and psychological support services. Other teams will begin to clear roads to supply relief to victims and set up a logistics base to transport humanitarian aid. HI is also dispatching teams to hard hit areas outside of Kathmandu, such as Pokhara and Ghokar.
• Heifer International: Providing temporary shelter, food and water for Heifer project communities in need including working with government and relief agencies to help meet basic needs. Heifer's work in Nepal will also focus on long-term development and sustainability during the recovering and rebuilding phase.
• HelpAge International: Providing support to vulnerable populations in Nepal in conjunction with local partners and programs. HelpAge's initial focus will be on addressing the immediate needs of survivors including emergency shelter, food, drinking water and household items. 
• Partners In Health: Monitoring emergency response efforts to determine how best to support those on the front lines.  
• SOS Children' Villages (SOS): Keeping children safe by establishing and managing 14 child-friendly spaces, as well as helping to locate and reunite unaccompanied children with their families. The organization aims to provide care and support to 20,000 children through its relief efforts. SOS is also providing shelter, food, water and aid to children and families in four locations: Jorpati, Kavre, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur.

For those suffering in Nepal, the Laureate organizations would like to express their deep condolences and thoughts and prayers for the millions affected. How you can help: If you are interested in supporting the Laureates as they help those affected by the Earthquake, please visit the Laureate's Nepal CrowdRise platform to provide a donation.   

About the Hilton Prize Laureates
The Hilton Prize Laureates is an independent alliance of the 19 winners of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Prize — working together globally to advance their unique missions and collective impact in humanitarian assistance, human rights, development, education and health. With Laureates working in more than 150 countries, this global collaborative seeks to leverage resources and expertise, explore innovations and establish best practices and standards that can be shared with the global NGO and donor communities.

CONTACT: Ann Canela, Vice President, Partner Solutions, Global Impact, 703-717-5224, [email protected]

SOURCE Global Impact