Commentary: Coordinated efforts needed for disaster relief, recovery in Nepal

A coordinated global response to the aftermath of Nepal's earthquake is necessary and essential as such an approach will ensure that the impoverished Asian country copes with the disaster, both in the immediate and the longer term.

The good will and concern around the world are enormous after Nepal was shattered by a mammoth earthquake more than a week ago. But the country still faces numerous obstacles on the tough road to disaster relief and recovery.

Damaged roads, ineffective communication, power outage and landslides have not only hampered rescue operations but also delayed deliveries of disaster relief supplies, making shortages of basic necessities acute.

The shortage of supplies is coupled with the possibility of epidemics. The United Nations has warned that diarrhea was already a growing problem and a measles outbreak was feared due to a shortage of vaccines.

Meanwhile, post-disaster construction would also be extremely challenging for the country following a disaster of this size and geographic reach.

With an aim to save more lives and help Nepalese people recover from the quake sooner, it is imperative for the international community, especially countries in the Asia-Pacific region, to work in concerted efforts to ensure that their relief efforts are effective and properly coordinated, and keep the country from being hit by a second wave of deaths from preventable causes.

So far relief supplies have reached the headquarters of all affected districts and it is expected that supplies will soon be airdropped to those remote villages cut off by landslides.

Dozens of countries have sent rescue crews to the quake-stricken areas, including China, the United States, Britain, Russia, Germany and Israel, and several international medical teams have been dispatched to the quake-hit areas to cope with the dire situation.

Meanwhile, international organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund are working closely with the Nepalese government to see to it that humanitarian supplies are delivered and distributed to affected communities as quickly as possible.

As of Friday, China had earmarked two packages of humanitarian aid worth 60 million yuan (9.7 million U.S. dollars) for Nepal.

A 62-member Chinese search and rescue team was among the first outside helpers to reach quake-hit areas in Nepal. They were followed by more teams from Chinese governmental and civil organizations, bringing with them much-needed life-saving equipment and materials.

More than 350 Chinese engineers, doctors and rescue workers are now working in Nepal to save lives and help the quake-ravaged country overcome the catastrophe. Endi