easyJet has today launched its emergency collection to support UNICEF’s Children’s Emergency Fund in Nepal, helping UNICEF reach children and families affected by the devastating flash floods. An estimated 65,000 people, including 22,100 children, have been affected across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun districts.
Damage to water and sanitation infrastructure across the affected areas has left many families without reliable access to safe water and hygiene facilities. With people forced to leave their homes and shelter in overcrowded host households, the risk of disease outbreaks is growing significantly and for many families, the loss of homes and livelihoods can leave children vulnerable and in need of urgent protection and support. The floods have also disrupted children's access to healthcare, nutrition services and education, while many children remain in need of protection and mental health support.
UNICEF has already reached around 19,000 people with critical water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support. Working alongside Government and local partners, UNICEF is supporting disease prevention through hygiene awareness and community engagement initiatives. As access to affected areas improves, UNICEF will continue to scale up support, including critical emergency water supplies, temporary sanitation and handwashing facilities. But more help is needed to match the scale of devastation in Nepal.
easyJet customers can make a world of difference by supporting UNICEF and its partners to deliver immediate, life-saving support to the children and families affected by this devastating event and other ongoing emergencies around the world.
easyJet’s dedicated cabin crew will be collecting donations during their inflight service from throughout September, giving customers the opportunity to donate at the same time as making in-flight purchases.
The price of a breakfast tea could, for example, help provide 400 water purification tablets, helping protect families when clean water supplies are compromised or 12 bars of soap – simple essentials that can help protect families from the spread of disease.
Michael Brown, easyJet’s Director of Cabin Services, said: “easyJet is proud to support UNICEFs Children’s Emergency Fund, helping deliver critical aid to the most vulnerable children around the world. The devastating floods in Nepal highlight just how vital rapid humanitarian support is both in protecting children and families when natural disasters strike, as well as supporting recovery efforts in the weeks and months to follow. Small onboard donations can make a big difference and we’d like to thank our customers and crew for their generosity and for continuing to get behind this incredible cause.”
Andy Todd, Director of Partnerships at UNICEF UK said: “Just a week ago, children in the areas affected by flooding in Nepal were going to school, playing with friends and spending time with their families. For thousands of children, that changed in a matter of minutes. We are grateful to easyJet, its crew and customers for supporting UNICEF's Children's Emergency Fund, helping us reach children affected by this emergency in Nepal and in crises around the world. In countries like Nepal, which are prone to natural disasters, UNICEF prepositions emergency supplies, helping to ensure support reaches those in need within the first 24 hours. This is why flexible funding – like the funding provided by easyJet to UNICEF - is so important. It allows us to prepare before emergencies happen, respond rapidly when they do, and adapt as children's needs evolve.
