More than two months after Papua New Guinea’s strongest earthquake in almost a century, stranded survivors are turning to an unexpected lifeline: a small domestic violence hotline run by a non-governmental organisation [ChildFund].

Although the risks of violence against women rise after disasters, most callers aren’t women. They’re men reaching out for support, enquiring about how to obtain food, shelter, and other services, or fearful of violence that has broken out in some areas after tribal clashes.

On 25 April 2015, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal, with its epicenter 50 miles (80 km) north-west of the capital Kathmandu. A strong aftershock (magnitude 7.3) followed on 12 May, with its epicenter 47 miles north-east of Kathmandu.

Almost 9,000 people were killed, and 22,300 were injured. Of the 2.8 million people who were affected, 1.1 million (40%) were children.

Within days, ChildFund was on the ground responding to the immediate needs of children and families affected by the earthquake. And then we stayed for more than two years to make sure families and communities were equipped to make a full recovery. 

Read the full spotlight feature here.

In the immediate aftermath of the two powerful earthquakes that struck Nepal in early 2015, ChildFund responded with emergency relief in the form of food, shelter and child-centered spaces. Over the following two years, ChildFund supported the rehabilitation of communities, rebuilding schools and providing supplies, ensuring safe water and hygiene, and providing livelihoods support to families. Overarching all programs was a commitment to child protection, and preparing for future emergencies.