Alicante aids Nepal earthquake victims

ALICANTE has allocated €10,000 of funds through the Red Cross for immediate emergency care to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. The quake, registering 7.8 on the Richter Scale, struck near Kathmandu and the latest figures put the death toll at more than 4,400 people.

Helicopters were working to rescue up to 150 mountaineers stranded on Everest above an ice fall caused by the earthquake and UNICEF said nearly one million children in Nepal were severely affected as it warned of water-borne and infectious diseases.

President of the Provincal Council of Alicante, Luisa Pastor, explained that the objective of the aid was to contribute to the work being developed by Red Cross on the ground, assisting the local authorities in the search and rescue of victims and administering aid and first aid to the injured. The amount contributed is being processed immediately and corresponds to the amount requested by the NGOs to co-ordinate aid.

The council has decided to reserve another €20,000 in case it is required in the future for new humanitarian or emergency contributions.