Earthquake and disaster risk reduction in Nepal

Namaste Friends,

While the whole world is going through the disaster of the COVID-19 pandemic, the earthquake-affected communities in remote Nepal are still needing support even for the most basic thing such as a decent shelter. PHASE Nepal in the past six years has been reaching the unreached earthquake-affected population in the remote communities to support rebuilding houses, public infrastructure, and people's livelihoods. In this short update, we have some achievements to share and some humble appeals to make.

113 new houses to the most vulnerable in North Gorkha

We supported 113 most vulnerable families (Persons living with disabilities, single women, elderly people, and ultra-poor families) to complete the rebuilding of their houses damaged by the 2015 Earthquake in four Rural Municipalities in the Gorkha district. With our support, the families were able to build decent houses for themselves. The project provided technical staff, building materials, and intensive follow-up support to accelerate and ensure the rebuilding of their houses.

"With limited income, I would never put up the courage to rebuild a home. I had given up my dream. Thanks for all PHASE Nepal’s support!", share an earthquake-affected individual, 33y, male, PWD from Gandaki Rural Municipality, Gorkha

 Food, Wash, and Shelter Packages to the Landslide Victims in Sindhupalchok and Dolakha

We supported Hygiene kits to 350 families affected by the 2021 Melamchi landslide and flash flood in Helambu village in Panchpokhari Thangpaldhap RM.
 

We also supported Food items: rice, pulses, cooking oil, and salt to the 6 most vulnerable families affected by landslides and floods in Baruwa, Sindhupalchok enough for two months. 

We supported 20 families affected by landslides with Galvanized Iron sheets to construct semi-permanent shelters in Kalinchok Rural Municipality in Dolakha district.

The supported families are the most vulnerable among the affected and have lost their houses, properties, cattle, and food grains in the floods and landslides induced by pouring monsoon.

Looking Ahead- Disaster Risk Reduction in the Far West Region

Learning from the devastating loss of life, shelter, and livelihoods in 2015 in the central and western regions namely Sindhupalchok and Gorkha, we are working to build resilient communities in the far west and Karnali region. PHASE has been working to strengthen health, education, and livelihood opportunities in these extremely isolated communities in the upper mountainous arid terrains of the Himalayan mountains. With a primitive lifestyle, settled in small hole-like mud houses, the people are ignorant of any disaster like an earthquake while the region lies in a high-risk seismic zone. The statistics say the region has been fortunately been affected by an earthquake for the past few hundred years thus possesses a risk of a bigger seismic shake anytime soon. We are focussing on resilient housing and public infrastructure and a better understanding of community members who are prepared for the disaster. We would need your further support in our endeavor in this regard too. 

We wholeheartedly appreciate your continued support for the past six years and would expect similar support in the future too.

PHASE Nepal Family