Earthquake and disaster risk reduction in Nepal

Monday, 25^th April 2016 marks the one year anniversary since the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal. And what a year it has been.

PHASE Nepal staff were in some of the most badly affected areas at the time of the earthquake. Sunita, PHASE Nepal’s health officer recalls that time: “When the earthquake hit, I was in Kathmandu, but my thoughts instantly went out to the teams in the field. From the very next day I was trying to get information from all the PHASE staff who were out in remote villages when disaster struck. Thankfully I found that they were all safe and well.”

PHASE Health workers kept the health posts open throughout the crisis, despite the fact that the buildings had collapsed. In fact they dug through the rubble to find the medicines they needed to treat injured people. They set up temporary accommodation for themselves, initially with just tarps, and temporary health posts in tents.

The staff based out of the Kathmandu office also wasted no time in organizing the relief effort. Sunita continues: “We were all scared at that time. There were frequent large aftershocks, and rumours about possible food shortages or epidemics. So we all threw ourselves into the job. PHASE moved its head office outside into a tent due to the ongoing risk of further earthquakes. Staff were working from 5am til 9am without a break or a day off. We saw it as urgent to reach badly-affected remote communities with supplies.”

Two of the most badly affected districts were PHASE Nepal’s core working areas: The epicentre was in Gorkha, which was so badly destroyed that in many villages there was not a house left standing. Sindhupalchowk, one of the least developed districts in Nepal, was just as badly hit and accounted for 40% of the total number of deaths.

In the following weeks and months, there was a shift from emergency relief to supporting a sustained recovery. PHASE Nepal distributed materials and tools for temporary shelters, ensured that local people had the necessary resources to restart farming practices, and ensuring essential services such as healthcare and education. As the seasons changed – firstly the lashing monsoon rains and then the freezing winter temperatures, PHASE was there to deliver clothes and other materials.

Pratiksha Shrestha, aged 22, was in her home village Tauthali in Sindhupalchowk when the earthquake struck. She said: “We had a beautiful two story house and a buffalo shed, both of which were destroyed by the earthquake. I, with my parents, my younger sisters and my brother have been living in a hut made of tarpaulin and few old iron sheets retrieved from the rubble – we had no choice but to also keep our buffalo beside us in the shelter. With the support of PHASE we plan to rebuild a separate shelter for ourselves. I am very happy that PHASE came to help us before the freezing winter season."

Thousands of vulnerable people have received essential support this year. But there is still a long way to go. In the year ahead PHASE Nepal needs to turn towards the enormous task of rebuilding permanent public infrastructure such as schools and health posts, and working with communities to support rebuilding of their homes and access to sustainable livelihoods.

We couldn’t have achieved this much without your help, and we hope that you will continue your support for us in this next crucial stage. Based on our core philosophy of empowerment, PHASE is helping to reconstruct not only buildings and services, but lives and communities.

To mark one year since the earthquake Global Giving is running a 1:1 matching campaign, starting TODAY 25^th April at 9am EDT (6.45pm Nepal time). EVERY donation will be matched by 100% until funds run out, so if you give $10 we will receive $20! The link to the project is here: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/nepal-earthquake-emergency-appeal/

If you are unable to make a donation now, you can still help. Please consider sharing the link on your Facebook or other social media to raise awareness of the work of PHASE and as a great way to help earthquake-affected communities.

A huge thank you for your ongoing support!