The earthquake in Nepal on 25th April (known as the Gorkha earthquake) killed more than 8,000 people and injured more than 19,000. Its epicentre was in the Gorkha District and was the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake.

The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least nineteen people, making it the deadliest day on the mountain in history and another huge avalanche in the Langtang Valley, where 250 were reported missing.

Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless, with entire villages flattened across many districts of the country. A second major earthquake also occurred on 12th May, when more than 200 people were killed and over 2,500 injured by this aftershock. Tens of thousands were left without access to safe drinking water and exposed to the risk of water-borne disease.

There are also concerns as next month sees the beginning of the monsoon rains in Nepal, which could trigger further landslides and the outbreak of disease.

A consignment of 500 Water-Survival Boxes has now been sent from the Rotary's WorldWaterWorks charity base in Westfield to Kathmandu, where it will be received by partner aid agency, Humanity First UK. It will be taken to the Gorkha District for distribution to families most in need of both clean water and other essential survival items with which they can begin to rebuild their lives.

The Rotary has launched an appeal for £75,000 that would pay for a further consignment of boxes to go to Nepal and help the team restock in preparation for any other worldwide disasters, should it occur. Volunteer Rotarians in Chelwood Bridge manage the project, with practical help from Rotary, Inner Wheel, school, youth and other local community groups. Every pound donated is used to pay for the boxes and air freight to ensure speed of response.

The standard box containing a water-purification kit and other essential survival items costs £150. This covers the cost of the box, contents, and air freight to the disaster area. The new Grifaid Aquafilter Family Water Purification Kit can supply 100,000 litres of clean water, which is the equivalent of ten litres per person for a family of five each day for five years – or 100 people for three months.

Donations can be made online through the website or cheques can be made payable to 'Worldwaterworks Limited' and sent to Westfield Business Centre, 32A Second Avenue, Westfield Trading Estate, Midsomer Norton BA3 4BH.