Background Situation:
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April, with the epicenter in Lamjung District (north-west) of Kathmandu. Government reports confirm that 30 out of 75 districts in the country have been affected in the Western and Central Regions, including Kathmandu Valley districts. This includes mountain and hilly areas, in areas where rural populations are dispersed, as well as some very densely populated districts and Nepal’s two largest cities – greater Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The worst affected districts include Sindulpalchowk, Kabhrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhading, Kaski, Gorkha, Lamjung, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Makawanpur, Manang, Chitawan and Nawalparsi. Most of these districts are located in Central region and Western region.
Update on new wave of Earthquake on May 12, 2015
- On 12 May, a 7.3 magnitude struck Nepal at 12:50 p.m. local time (UTC+5:45) near Chilankha Village Development Committee in Dolakha District.
- A total of 32 districts were affected, including those still recovering from the 25 April 7.8 magnitude earthquake
-
- The Government confirmed 65 deaths and 1,926 people injured.
- Within the vicinity of the Chautara humanitarian hub, at least 20 buildings collapsed.
- Heavy rain and aftershocks caused an influx of people to the Chautara humanitarian hub.
- In Dolakha District, a large number of houses were damaged by the 12 May earthquake.
- Debris removal remains a priority in all affected districts to ensure access to areas blocked by landslides.
Updates 13th June
Monsoon season in Nepal
People in Nepal are accustomed to adapting to the seasonal changes the monsoon brings to their lives. This includes changes in movement of people and goods, adjustments to livelihood methods, and challenges in terms of storage of assets that need to be protected from damp and wet conditions and the risk of flooding. The timing of the earthquake just prior to monsoon season means that challenges this year will be greater than usual and that the capacity of communities and households to be prepared for the monsoon will be stretched. The impending monsoon increases the urgency for humanitarian stakeholders to respond as rapidly as possible prior to the onset of the rains and to find ways to modify response during the monsoon to continue to meet the most urgent needs.
According to data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the 2015 monsoon is forecast to arrive in the southeastern part of Nepal around 5 June, and to spread westward across the country by 20 June (AGU Landslide Blog 20/05/2015). The monsoon lasts for an average of 105 days, with much higher rainfall experienced in the eastern region compared with the western region, with a peak in the central region (Sigdel and Ikeda 2012, Ichiyanagi et al. 2007). This means that, of the districts highly-affected by the earthquake, the monsoon will reach Okhaldhunga, Sindhuli, and Ramechhap first, followed by the central region (Dolakha, Khabrepalanchok, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Makawanpur, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading), and will reach Gorkha last. In terms of agro-ecological zones, the hills receive higher annual rainfall than the mountains (Panthi et al. 2015). 80% of Nepal’s annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon period (Neupane 2008). When the monsoon withdraws it moves from west to east, the opposite sequencing of the onset (Gautam and Regmi 2013). Long-term trends point to a delayed withdrawal, which would see monsoon rains lasting progressively later into the year.
Monsoon season-Potential impacts on Humanitarian assistance
Changes in access to settlements in parts of Nepal are a regular feature of the monsoon season. However, there is greater concern with access this year due to the instability of roads and the increased number of landslides to date, with more expected. The monsoon will impact access across all clusters/sectors in the delivery of aid.
Physical access to communities in need and by communities in need:
Road access will become increasingly difficult as rains make rural roads muddy, and difficult or impossible to navigate by vehicle. This impacts both the delivery of assistance and community access to services such as health care and markets.
Continued landslides pose a risk for blocking roads, taking out bridges connecting villages, and injuring people using mountain footpaths. The capacity to rapidly respond to blocked roads, mountain paths and damaged infrastructure varies.
Air access is known to become more difficult during the monsoon with a smaller window of safe travel time available. Rain and fog hinder helicopter access to higher altitude areas. Flight details specific to monsoon season were unavailable at time of writing, but flight cancellations are a common feature of air transport in Nepal. In 2014, domestic airlines cancelled 12,675 flights- one third of their total scheduled flights- mostly due to weather conditions such as heavy rain, high winds, or blinding fog
Potential Sectoral Impacts
FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS
The timing of the monsoon is crucial for agricultural output, as 67% of agricultural land in Nepal is rain-fed. The Central Region, which contains 12 earthquake-affected districts (Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa, Dhading, Ramechhap, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Sindhuli, Nuwakot, Makawanpur, Kabhrepalanchok, Chitwan), is the largest supplier of food grain in the country, contributing a third of total national rice and wheat production
SHELTER
Durable shelter that adequately protects inhabitants from rain and wind is necessary before the monsoon arrives. Due to the access issues outlined above there is added pressure on ensuring materials to provide this shelter are available in more remote areas prior to the monsoon because once the monsoon arrives delivery will be come much more difficult.
Spontaneous camps that have sprung up in flat urban areas of the valley will be prone to flooding. There will be a need to identify ways to ensure that the food and NFIs people have will not be destroyed by water.
Heavy rainfall and flooding in Chautara, Sindhupalchok in mid-May has already had a negative impact on the living conditions for the displaced population in the municipality
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
The monsoon brings with it an increase in several health concerns, particularly water-related diseases such as diarrhoea. The key concern in relation to health is that the issues regularly identified as problems during the monsoon will be worse than usual this year as a result of the impact of the earthquake in terms of living conditions, water and sanitation and that these will be further exacerbated if access to healthcare is more challenging than usual.
EDUCATION
The government plans to resume school using Temporary Learning Centres (TLCs), combined with re-opening schools that did not have damage. A shortage of materials for construction of TLCs is anticipated in many areas, and it is likely to take weeks to set up a TLC with a toilet for each damaged school. Communities eager to resume school may attempt quick repairs of damaged buildings with insufficient planning and limited budgets, which may result in unintentionally unsafe structures. Safe, flat spaces for these TLCs must be identified in cases where damaged schools are at risk of landslide or flooding.
- Total 330 humanitarian agencies are implementing some 2,200 humanitarian activities. To inform the planning and coordination of relief and early recovery in support of Government efforts, operational information are being consolidated from partners on the ground into a 4W to illustrate who is doing what, where and when.
- According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 26 hospitals were damaged and more than 900 village health facilities outside the Kathmandu Valley are nonfunctional.
- On 10 May, a district authority-led rapid multi-sectoral assessment started across all Village Development Committees (VDC) in Sindhupalchowk to generate a harmonized set of basic data for all clusters at the VDC levels. Cluster-specific assessments will complement the rapid multi-sectoral assessment.
- Heavy rain and hail on 10 May caused significant flooding in the Chautara area affecting people without homes now living in temporary shelters. Unseasonal rains continue to further impede access by road to the most-remote VDCs.
Situation Overview May 11, 2015
- Highest rate of destruction reported in districts Sindupalchowk and Gorkha. Across large parts of Dhading, Nuwakot and Ramecchap districts, more than 80 per cent of houses have been flattened.
- In affected areas almost all of the population staying outside homes or in make-shift shelters, which are mostly arranged by them.
- The demolition of damaged buildings is urgent
- At least 950,000 children in Nepal will not be able to return to school unless urgent action is taken to assess schools in the affected districts and provide temporary learning spaces where schools are destroyed
- There is an immediate need to restore primary health care services and provide rehabilitation support to discharged patients.
- The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) estimates that each month about 1,500 pregnant women are likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth requiring medical care.
- More than 535,000 children under age-5, 60,000 pregnant women and 637,000 adolescent girls are at risk of illness requiring special care in 14 districts according to the Health Management Information System (HMIS) data.
- The Government and humanitarian partners have by now reached all the affected districts and are refining information on needs of affected people, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
- More than 70% affected population have no access to safe drinking water
- About 90% affected population are forced for OFD
- The most of the temples, religious and heritage sites are damaged, but the more modern structures have withstood the severity of the quakes
- National telecommunications systems and services and power supplies have been severely damaged throughout the affected area but now gradually improving
- In many of the areas people have lost the seeds for sowing or planting for next season
Earthquake Response by Governments and UN partners in Nepal
The United Nations and its partners are scaling up operations as the information from all affected areas is refining to address the most urgent needs.The Government continues to coordinate relief support from over 16 countries. As of 10 May, the Government has released a total of 2.84 billion Nepalese Rupees (approximately US$ 21 million) to support relief operations in the affected districts.
Humanitarian needs – including food, shelter and improve sanitation – remain cause for concern. A scale-up of operations is required to ensure immediate and principled assistance reaches people in desperate need within the next six weeks, in advance of the monsoon season. Shelter remains the most critical need in the affected areas
- Orthopedic equipment and supplies are urgently needed in the Kathmandu Valley. There is a need to support assisted discharge for earthquake injured patients who need post-operation follow-up and rehabilitation. Only 254 surgical operations are performed in five districts.
- Measles (children 6 – 59 months) and Rubella crash vaccination initiated in Kathmandu valley districts.
- An estimated 15,000 children (6 to 59 months old) with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) require therapeutic feeding and 70,000 children (6 to 59 months) with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) need supplementary food.
- Blanket supplementary feeding is needed for some 200,000 children and pregnant and lactating women. Some 126,000 children (0 to 23 months) need nutritious food to avoid malnourishment
- Vitamin A, micronutrient supplements and deworming pills are needed for some 362,000 children (6 to 59 months) and 185,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
- There is insufficient therapeutic food for an estimated 10,000 children with SAM and supplementary food for 70,000 children with MAM
- Regarding shelter, self-recovery becoming more and more prominent but some logistic and technical assistance is required. The issue of Tarp sheet or CGI is still confusing for the local partners.
- Sanitation response seems to be very sluggish. An already poor status of improve sanitation (37%), and a community priority, mobilization is urgently required with shelter support.
- For early recovery, the local government system the Village Development Committees should be mobilized and rehabilitated, as more than 150 VDCs offices are also damaged
HANDS Introduction:
HANDS was founded by Prof. A. G. Billoo (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) in 1979. HANDS has evolved in 34 years as one of the largest Non-Profit Organization of the country with integrated development model and disaster management expertise. HANDS has a network of 31 offices across the country and has access to more than 16.2 million population nearly 20,274 villages/ settlement in 44 districts of Pakistan. HANDS strength is 18 volunteer Board Members, more than 1700 full time staff and thousands of community based volunteers of more than 5200 community based partner organizations.
HANDS has a vast experience to deal with Emergencies during the recent disasaters in the cuntry.
- Punjab Flood Emergency Response September 2014
Emergency response was initiated within 24 hours in District MuzzafarGarh, Multan, MandiBahauddin, Jhang, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Sialkot &Rajanpur more than 12000 beneficiaries received relief package from HANDS and are still continue.
- Drought in Tharparkar in March 2014:
Drought in Tharparkar March 2014 Relief Packages provided to 6000 Families in 2 Months and relief services.
- Nutrition support (April to June 2014): (6 to 59 months) children total cured (MAM & SAM) 1480
- Nutrition support (July to Sep 2014): (6 to 59 months)children total cured (MAM & SAM) 5502.
- IDPs of North Waziristan Agency 2014:
Emergency Response was initiated within 36 hours to provide assistance to IDPs at Bannu, KP.
- Drought in Tharparkar in March 2014: Emergency Response was initiated within 5 hours and Relief package was provided to 6,000 families in 2 months.
- Earthquake in AwaranBalochistan in October 2013: Emergency response was initiated within 8 hours & comprehensive relief package was provided in hard conditions and conflicted areas within two months to 10,000 families.
- Rain Emergency 2012 in Northern Sindh, South Punjab &Balochistan: Emergency response was initiated within 6 hours. Distribution of emergency relief package was provided to 27000 families within 2 months
- Rain Emergency 2011 in Southern Districts of Sindh:
Emergency response was initiated within 8 hours in 8 districts. 29000 families were reached within 2 moths
- Flood Emergency 2010:
Emergency response was initiated within 4 hours in northern Sindh & 36,000 families were reached within 1 month.
- Kashmir Earthquake 2005
Emergency response was initiated within 24 hours at Batgram more than 1000 patients / clients were treated.
- Badin Cyclone 2002
HANDS emergency response was initiated within 6 hours at Badin and more than 700 patients / clients were treated.
ECCA Introduction:
ECCA (environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness) was established in July 1987 as a nonprofit, non-political, non-government organization. ECCA is registered in Government of Nepal, District Administration Office, Jwagol, Kupondol-10, Lalitpur Kathmandu and affiliated with Social Welfare Council, Kathmandu.
ECCA has been a leading organization in the sector of social mobilization and community development. It implements various programs so as to raise the quality of life through wise-use of available local resources and application of alternate and renewable technologies.
HANDS Relief Intervention in Nepal:
- Situation Analysis by HANDS
The process of situation analysis is continued with the relief activities. HANDS team with support and facilitation of local partner organization ECCA conducted a quick situation analysis. The process includes the information sharing by the ECCA team, field visits observation, information from the local government authorities and the local resident communities.
In phase-1, the areas covered were Khokana and Bangumati, which are peri-urban slums of Patan city in Lalitpur district, and the village development committee (VDC) Dalchoki, rural area in district Lalitpur.
In phase-2,the situation analysis was conducted along with mobile medical camps in Chautara Municipality and Guarati ward-2 of Chautara, both are located in Sindhupalchowk district, and in VDC Malta located in district Lalitpur.
PHASE-1
A.1 Situation in Khokana and Bangumati, district Lalitpur:
- 80% of the buildings and houses are demolished or badly damaged and fragile. In these areas, many families live in fragile and vulnerable homes with outer walls and/or foundations constructed from poor quality materials. Most of them now sitting in open places. Shelters are not provided to these affected families.
- The water supply lines are totally damaged. Now the district municipal government and other iNGOs have installed large water storage tanks. The water is supplied by the water tankers. Few of the NGOs are supplying chlorine solution to make the water safe for drinking purpose. The volunteers of the NGOs are providing information and conducting awareness sessions on hygiene and use of chlorine solution for purification of water making it safe for drinking
- Most of the latrines are also damaged. But the people are sharing the latrine in safe buildings in the neighboring area.
- Medical services are provided by the Government health facilities, Thai army teams and NGOs. There was no critical health need identified.
- Majority of the families have enough food stock, which they are retrieving the rubble. For immediate need the NGOs and citizens of Kathmandu are supplying cooked food. Nepal Army troops are supporting the families to recover the livlihood material from the damaged or demolished buildings and houses.
- The religious sites such as temples and historical sites in these areas are also badly damaged or totally demolished.
A.2 Situation in Dalchoki, district Lalitpur
The Dalchoki is a VCD (village Development Committee), located towards the south of Patan city (district Headquarter of Lalitpur) in Kathmandu valley. It is spread over the mountainous area, nearly 34 Km from the Kathmandu city. It comprised of 9 wards, which are the smallest administrative unit. Each VCD is administered by the local people committee having representation from each ward. Here the population is widely dispersed in the mountains. There most of the houses are located in isolation, and at few places in small cluster of 4-6 houses. Most of the houses are made of mud and stones. The information is based on observation, individuals community members and families including women and elders, and the representatives of the VDC. The data and few of the relevant information is also verified by the VDC records and Government local Health post record.
- There were 299 houses in the VDC. The population is 1896.
- Nearly 99% houses are fully damaged or need to be demolished for re-construction.
- One death reported from the area
- The people are living in open air or made temporary makeshift arrangement from the demolished tin sheets or mats etc.
- The water supply is intact. It is government arrangement. Many houses previously have tap water supply within their homes, that have been damaged. But the community taps are functional. They used the same water for drinking purpose as well. Considering it safe for drinking they usually did not take any measures for its purification. Now the ECCA is supplying chlorine solution and providing awareness regarding the methodology and significance of purification of water for drinking purpose.
- It is ODF free community. Although Latrines have been damaged in many of the houses, but almost all sharing the functional latrines within their neighborhood. No one is going for ODF.
- Almost all families have food stocks, which they have recovered from the rubble.
- Many animals are perished including goats, cows, and buffaloes
- One Government Sub-Health Post is functional in ward 3, although it is partially damaged. Health assistant and Nurse assistant are residing there, providing the mobile services in different wards since the earthquake. One birthing station is also located in ward 3. One skilled birth attendant is residing in adjacent rooms with family. The building remained unaffected. The center is functional, usually 3-4 normal deliveries are conducted by the SBA.
PHASE-2
- 3 Situation in Malta, district Lalitpur
The VDC Malti is located 75 km in the south of Patan city, in district Lalitpur. Total 386 households comprised population of 2045, divided in 9 wards.
- Almost all housed are affected as 290 (75 %) demolished and 96 (25%) are severely damaged
- There were only few latrines, which all are damaged. All people are practicing ODF
- Water supply was disturbed but since one day it is rehabilitated.
- Large of livestock perished including the 45 Buffaloes, 90 goats and more than 500 poultry. As many small and one large poultry farm collapsed. Most if their livelihood depends on livestock and poultry business
- Only one death is reported and only minor injuries to few people
- Many school buildings are damaged.
- There was no health facility
- 5 Situation in Chautara Municipality, district Sindhupalchowk
The district is located in Central region, north-east of district Kathmandu. It is the most affected district. The population is 3146 comprised of 484 households.
It is also hilly and mountainous areas and most of the houses are made of red-bricks, or mud and stones. The VDC is functional and try to facilitate the community and the aid-workers.
- More than 90% houses are destroyed or severely damaged.
- Still no temporary shelter is provided
- Water supply remained disconnected for 8 days and is restored just one day back
- Most of the population utilizes the existing latrines as most of the structure is not much damaged
- Most of the families facing shortage of food
- School buildings are mostly safe
- One Health post is safe and functional. Medical staff and medicines are available
- Other supplies or any sort of help is not arrived or provided by anyone
- HANDS-ECCA team provided mobile medical services
- HANDS-ECCA plan to provide food ration on request on VDC to all 484 families
- 6 Situation in Chautara Ward-2 (Guarati), district Sindhupalchowk
It is located 15 km east of city Chautara. The population is 1180 comprised of more than 200 households. The catchment areas includes the Bagh Bazar, ChaguliTole and Baspati.
- There is no health post of the government and no medical relief is provided since the earthquake.
- School buildings are damaged,
- Most of the families are staying in open space or in self-made makeshift shelters
- Few of them have started slowly the recovery of the material for construction of temporary shelter
- Many of them have lost the food stocks and seeds for next season plantation/cultivation
- Majority of the families have enough stock for next 2 weeks and they are sharing food with the other families
- Livestock loss remained minimal
- Water supply is intact
- Sanitation facilities or latrines are usable and functional. Majority population is shairng and using the latrine and avoided the ODF
- HANDS-ECCA team provided the mobile medical services as per their need
- HANDS International-Nepal Interventions:
Signing of MoU with District Education Officer Sindhupalchowk for construction of Temporary Learning Centers TLCs in 04 schools.
24,974 classrooms destroyed, Department of Education (DoE) reports 20,071 public and additional 4,903 private school classrooms estimated destroyed, while 9,986 classrooms have reported minor damages but still unsafe for students to carry their studies inside these classrooms. 870,000 children are out of school, due to destroyed/majorly damaged classrooms 1.6 million enrolled pre-crisis in 14 most affected districts. Hundreds of thousands are affected in other districts by interrupted schooling, damaged classrooms and psychosocial impact (figures from Nepal Education Cluster)
Sindhupalchowk district is one of worst affected districts in recent earthquakes. As per district education officer ninety-five per cent 95% school buildings in Sindhupalchowk district have suffered damage due to the devastating earthquake occurred on April 25 and May 12 and hundreds of students are unable to restore their schooling as soon schools re-open.
Educational activities are still suspended due to earthquake and government announced to reopen the schools from 30th May, 2015 but still educational activities not started as 95% schools damaged. As per figures shared by district education officer and field visits of schools, describing the crisis as a “children’s emergency,” HANDS International signed MoU with district education officer Sindhupalchowk along with its Nepalese partner ECCA to provide these children with a safe and supportive environment through constructing TLCs in 04 schools of ward 1 & 2 of Chuatara municipality. HANDS International and ECCA team visited target schools for assessment and conducted meetings with school head teachers. Local contractor are being assigned to carry out construction work.
HANDS International and Street Child UK joint assessment and support for District Okhaldunga
HANDS International Nepal team along with Street Child UK & ECCA visited Okhaldunga district to support educational activities. HANDS International signed MoU to support Nepal education department by constructing Temporary Learning Centers TLCs in worst affected districts to restart schooling, provide psychosocial counseling and protect children from trafficking and sexual abuse
Emergency Relief activities:
HANDS early relief packages included the provision of emergency shelter, mobile medical services and dry food ration provision to affected families. The area situation analysis and assessment, then the beneficiaries assessment were carried out by the HANDS & ECCA teams with consultation of the district government and local VDC (village development committees). The beneficiaries forms were filled and token were issued, verified by the representatives of local government officials and community representatives. The summary of beneficiaries is given in table:
Emergency Shelters
After the need assessment of the area, the beneficiaries’ assessment was conducted in VDC – Dalchoki.
It has been selected for temporary shelter distribution, as all 299 houses are destroyed or damaged.
- 301 Tarpaulin sheets along with 3000 nails and ropes were distributed in Ward 1 to 9 of VDC Dalchoki, to 301 families. (286+15)
- The solar lights were also distributed among the lactating women, to the Health post staff and birthing station staff as the power supply is remained disconnected since earthquake.
- Chlorine solution is distributed among the 200 families in ward 6 and 3, to purify water for drinking purposes.
Mobile Medical Services:
HANDS initiated health services through conduction of Mobile Medical Camps with financial support of Medico International and local collaborative partner ECCA. According to the need identification, the mobile medical camps were organized at two different sites. The first camp was organized at Chautara Municipality. Total 43 patients have attended the camp. Almost all of them were adults. Majority of them were suffering from Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). Two team of volunteer doctors and paramedic staff and field assistances were involved in the services.
The second medical camp was organized at Chautara ward-2 (Guarati). The catchment areas include Bagh Bazar, ChagulaTole and Baspati. Total community members attended the medical services were 139 including 48 children. Most of them were suffering from acute respiratory infections (32%), followed by the injuries (12%). Most of the injuries clients were male. The third medical camps was organized at Kharka, Milamchi, district Sindhupalchowk. Total clients 110 clients got the medical services including 8 children, 46 women and 41 men. The fourth medical camp was organized at Talamara, Milamchi, district Sindhupalchowk. Total 113 clients got the medical services, including 10 children, 55 women and 48 men.
Among the clients, majority was suffering from acute respiratory infections, as mostly are staying in the night in open spaces and temperature is still a bit cold in the night. The injured patients 38 (9.4%) also got the follow up treatment. Most of the patients have complaint of ill-defined symptoms such as headache, palpitation, confusion etc, that reflected the stress state of which most of them are facing. It revealed the need of psycho-social program for the community.
Overall report of 4 Medical Camps:
Total 405 patients were treated by HANDS-ECCA medical team in 4 days and most of them were female 51%, male 40% and children under 5 years of age 9%.
Distribution of Patients on Gender and Age basis:
Disease Pattern and Age wise proportion of Patients:
Only 13 patients of diarrhea reported which are 3 children, 5 male and female. Highest number of cases reported was 101 of acute respiratory infections. Among these were 22 children below five years of age, 34 male and 45 female. Total 38 patients treated of injuries, mostly of minor wounds, bruises and blunt injuries. All of these were above than 5 years of age and mostly male (26).
Food Distribution:
After the situation analysis and need assessment, HANDS and ECCA team jointly decided to provide the dry Food ration to the needy families. The food package included the Rice 20 kg, Pulses 2 kg, Sugar 2 kg, cooking oil 2 liters and salt 1 kg. This package is for 7 days food for a family of 7 members each. The initial beneficiary assessment forms were filled and tokens were issued through the Municipality committee officials. Then on mutually agreed two food distribution sites/points were identified and selected. The tokens were verified on date of distribution and food package were given to the 484 families.
- HANDS Consultative Meetings:
HANDS Nepal team participated in shelter and protection cluster meetings held in UN House, Lalitpur. Objectives and standards set for shelter installation and protections including child protection and GBV were discussed.
HANDS team visted VDC Dalchoki District Laltipur on 15-16 May where 301 families have received shelter material. Shelter material found to be used properly in wads 1 to 9 with support of VDC Dalchoki.
HANDS team with facilitation of ECCA team conducted many meetings with other NGOs and Government authorities and departments. The purpose of these meetings was to gather the information about the earthquake affected areas and the population, priority needs of the survivors and to share the HANDS plan for the relief activities.
Visit of CEO HANDS International
CEO HANDS visited Nepal emergency project and participated in various coordination meetings.
Documenting the earth quake relief activities by HANDS
HANDS Information Communication Resource & Advocacy team documents earthquake hit areas as well as relief support provided by HANDS and ECCA
Meeting with Senior Management and Board Members of ECCA:
HANDS team held several meetings with the ECCA management. During the meetings both organizations presented the introduction for greater mutual understanding. The Relief plan was discussed, information regarding the need and situation was shared, situation analysis process was finalized. After several discussion, MoU, Budget and detail work plan is finalized. The project team is on board.
Orientation of ECCA-HANDS Relief project Staff:
Detail orientation of the project staff was conducted by HANDS team. The training on data recording and reporting formats, area and population assessment formats, beneficiary assessment formats, MIS and HANDS web-based Disaster Management System was given to the team. The formats were modified with mutual understanding according to the working modalities. The field working methodology, and approaches were discussed and explained. The detail work plan is finalized.
Meeting of District Development Committee Lalitpur:
The district government of Lalitpurconducted meeting on May 03, 2015 at the administrative office, with all NGOs who are involved in relief work in the district. The purpose of the meeting was to share the progress and future plan by each partner, to enhance the coordination, avoid duplication and identification of priority needs and gaps in the services. HANDS team shared the plan, progress and request coordination and support from the government. They district administration admire the HANDS initiatives and committed to provide the support.
Coordination Meetings with Different cluster Partners
Several meetings were held with different cluster partners individually and jointly. The HANDS plan and other partners progress and plans, the challenges and issues were highlighted and discussed.
Coordination meeting with UN agencies HANDS International team ensured meetings and sharing contribution with various U agencies. Meeting with UNHABITAT, UESCO, UNDP and UNCIEF team were conducted.
Challenges
- As soon monsoon season starts, access to hilly and far areas will be challange
- After shocks continues which created panic among the people in both urban and rural areas.
- Quality of locally available materials is also a concern and procurement time will need to be factored in.
- Main roads are open in most of the districts. However, landslides have challenged transportation of relief items to some areas. Airlifts are required to access and deliver aid to rural areas. Many affected villages are still without road access at all.
- Fuel is urgently needed to pump ground water and to maintain services at hospitals and other critical facilities where power outages are frequent.
- There are different needs of different populations and at different geographical locations. Thereby in relief phase the integrated approach is not feasible.
- Coordination among the local NGOs need to be improved to extend the relief work span
- So far, no psychosocial rehabilitation activities are initiated, thereby the people self-recollection and recovery of livelihood items and shelter reconstruction is extremely slow.
PHOTO GALLERY
HANDS Partner Information:
In Nepal
ECCA-HANDS Office:
Contact Person:
- Angel Chitrakar, Senior Program officer, ECCA
Address: Wise-use House, Jwagol, Kopundol, Lalitpur
- O. Box 9210 Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977 1 5550452, 5553870 Fax: 5011006
Email:ecca@mos.com.np; Website: www.ecca.org.np
HANDS International Country office in Nepal
House No. 254/20 Okharbot Marga, New Baneshower, Opposite to Societal School, Khatmandu, Nepal.
Phone: +977-9813347891
Contact Person:
- Waseem Solangi; Country Coordinator, HANDS Nepal
Cell: +977-9813347891 ; Email waseem.solangi@hands.org.pk
In Pakistan
HANDS Head Office
Contact Person:
- Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed, Chief Executive, HANDS
Cell: +92-300-8200507
Email: tanveer.ahmed@hands.org.pk
- Ghulam Mustafa Zaor, General Manager, IDEAS program HANDS
Cell: +92-346-8209538
Email: ghulam.mustafa@hands.org.pk
- Muhammad Raheem Marri, General Manager Disaster Management Program HANDS
Cell: +92-346-8209561
Email: raheem.marri@hands.org.pk
Address:
- No. 140-C, Block-2, PECHS, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34552804
Email: info@hands.org.pk
Web: www.hands.org.pk,
youtube.com/handsinstitute, facebook.com/hands.org.pk, handspakistan.wordpress.com, flickr.com/photos/handspakistan, twitter.com/handspakistan
In London
HANDS International
Address:
483 Green Lanes, London N13 4BS , United Kingdom
Cell: UK 020 36333679 From outside UK +442036333679