Australians stranded in Nepal since Saturday’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake are expected to be airlifted later today in two Royal Australian Air Force jets.
The Federal Government revealed it had decided to airlift Australians out of the capital city Kathmandu in response to limited seating on commercial aircraft and major airline delays.
The aircraft has been waiting in Bangkok since Tuesday for an opportunity to safely fly into Nepal.
It will deliver aid and then take Australians to Bangkok.
Priority will be given to elderly travellers, people at risk of sickness or have pressing medical issues and families with young children.
Mitchell Pedavoli is among the Australians stranded in Nepal since Saturday.
According to ABC News, around 80 Australians have been camping out at the Australian embassy since the quake.
Meanwhile other Australians are still unable to reach Kathmandu for evacuation and according to a Sydney backpacker he and one group of around 35 Australians are stranded in a trekking town.
The 25-year-old, Mitchell Pedavoli, told 702 ABC Sydney that the group are trapped in the town of Lukla, in north-eastern Nepal.
Mr Pedavoli said he had been in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), but has been told there is little they can do to evacuate tourists for the area.
“I spoke to them on two occasions yesterday and they will offer no assistance to get anyone out of Lukla, that’s plain and simple, that’s what they said.”
Mitchell Pedavoli, stranded backpacker
According to the Sydneysider, the government told him they will offer a plane for Kathmandu to Sydney, but have no way of getting him and the group from Lukla to Kathmandu.
On DFAT’s website, the government agency says it has deployed a consular officer to Lukla and will deploy further officials to Pokhara over the coming days.
“If you are outside Kathmandu and are not able to obtain safe transport to Kathmandu, you should find a safe place to shelter, stay in a group if possible, and remain in contact with your loved ones.”
DFAT
It has been six days since Nepal’s earthquake hit between Kathmandu and Pokhara, causing major devastation across the Himalayan nation.
An official from Nepal’s home ministry says as of Wednesday night, the confirmed death toll was at 5,238.
Almost 10,350 people are injured and there’s still a large number of people unaccounted for.
Search teams are still removing rubble in an attempt to locate any survivors.
Photos of survivors continue to roll out on the Internet, including one of a four-month-old baby being pulled from rubble 22 hours after the earthquake.
The boy, named Sonit Awal, was buried under rubble left behind from his collapsed family home in Bhaktapur.
Rescuers tried until midnight on the day of the quake to find him, but were forced to retire.
The father said he heard his son crying throughout the night and he was finally pulled out to safety at around 10am the following day.
He was not only alive, but free of injury.
Back home in Australia, the industry continues to show its support for the people of Nepal, with appeals and fundraisers.
Intrepid Group
Intrepid told KarryOn through a tweet earlier this week that thanks to the generosity of the public, its appeal “smashed the $200K commitment”.
The appeal is raising funds for Plan International, a long-term partner of The Intrepid Foundation.
The children’s charity has been working in Nepal for more than 30 years to offer impoverished children to access, health, education and protection.
Plan International has sent emergency teams to respond to the needs of children and families affected by the earthquake in the Kathmandu Valley, with the immediate priority of supporting children’s core needs of shelter, water, health care, and essential child protection mechanisms.
All donations will go directly to Plan International with any administration costs entirely funded by Intrepid Group.
Click here to make a donation.
G Adventures
G Adventures said yesterday that in little more than a day since launching its aid appeal it surpassed its $75,000 fundraising goal.
Founder, Bruce Poon Tip said as of yesterday morning, the company has raised more than $85,000 from nearly 1,000 donors in 35 countries.
The tour operator has increased its target to $100,000 and will contribute an additional $25,000 to encourage continued donations in support of the recovery efforts.
To address an urgent need, G Adventures has already delivered $10,000 in rapid mobilization funds, which will be used to distribute emergency relief in the form of water, food, fuel, and blankets to villages impacted in the Kathmandu Valley.
The balance of funds will be used for the long-term repairing and rebuilding of homes in the region. This includes the homes of dozens of porters, guides, and homestay hosts, and the homes of the women from Planeterra’s Sisterhood of Survivors community project in Kathmandu.
Click here to make a donation.
Thai Airways
Thai Airways – a primary carrier assisting in the transport of rescue aid to Nepal – said it is supporting the government sector by sending medical teams, rescue teams, and relief supplies to those affected by the earthquake.
THAI has prepared a two part plan that includes arranging a reservation center for those providing relief assistance and transporting cargo shipments carrying relief goods in the aircraft belly.
As for the private sector and various foundations, THAI has set up a center to coordinate with various organizations transporting relief goods at THAI’s Crisis Management Operations Center at Tel. 02-545-3181 (24 hours a day).
United Airlines
United Airlines today announced that in just one day, customers and employees have generously donated more than $1 million to the airline’s disaster relief partners the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Airlink and Operation USA.
Since Monday, more than 7,800 United customers and employees have made contributions to relief efforts in Nepal through the company’s fundraising site, and United has provided a $50,000 match donation to these partner organisations.
The airline is also providing a one-time mileage bonus to MileagePlus members who donate.
United is contributing up to five million miles for this initiative. MileagePlus members who give between $50-99 will receive 250 bonus miles, those who contribute $100-249 will receive 500 bonus miles, and members who donate more than $250 will receive 1,000 bonus miles.
Click here to make a donation.
KarryOn
KarryOn will be holding a special ‘market’ fundraiser for the office on Monday 4 April.
It will see KarryOn staff bring in unwanted items to auctioned off amongst other staff.
Staff that don’t take part in the auction will also have the choice to donate money on the day.
All donations will be split between Intrepid and G Adventures’ appeals.