Akshaya Patra is facilitating the setting up of a field kitchen to provide support to emergency meal distribution efforts in Nepal, which has recently suffered two devastating earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.3 magnitude. The kitchen which is being developed with the Jamsetji Tata Trust and Sipradian Sahayata Sanstha will be located in Bhaktapur (14 kms from Kathmandu). The kitchen is being established on a top priority basis, and will have the capacity to cook 10,000 meals in one batch, in the span of one hour.

The kitchen was conceptualised when the Tata Trust requested Akshaya Patra to set up and operate the facility in the region. A joint committee comprising of nominees from Tata Trust, Akshaya Patra and Sipradian Sahayata Sanstha visited the earthquake impacted localities where it was found that as many as 55,000 people are homeless, and clean food and drinking water are in short supply. Even where food material is available, the women are forced to cook in unsafe conditions such as in the vicinity of open drains and garbage pits.

The Foundation is working hard to provide as much relief to Nepal as possible. Following the first earthquake on 25^th April, Akshaya Patra prepared 100,000 meals in its Jaipur kitchen on 29^th April which was transported to Delhi and then airlifted to Nepal. On 30^th April Akshaya Patra sent an additional 2,500 kilograms of emergency food aid to the region.

Over the past 15 years of providing the mid-day meal programme across India, Akshaya Patra has developed into an expert on cooking healthy meals, in large quantities, in a short amount of time. This knowledge provides an opportunity for Akshaya Patra to be of unique assistance to earthquake affected Nepal.