Earthquake and disaster risk reduction in Nepal

Thanks to your support and contributions, we were able to successfully complete the distribution of materials for shelter to 12 deserving families on 15th of July 2023 from Borta, Rugin in Bajura. This recent activity serves as a continuation of our ongoing efforts to support the community and their housing challenges.

PHASE Nepal has been supporting remote and needy communities affected by disasters with its emergency relief as well as long-term recovery programs, especially after the earthquake in 2015. Nepal is prone to several natural disasters, particularly earthquakes due to its weak tectonic location, and monsoon-induced floods and landslides due to its rugged terrain and mountains with fast-flowing rivers. The monsoon season is ongoing, and our team is on alert to provide any kind of needed support to the people in our project locations. In this update, we present our latest work on disaster risk reduction.

By distributing materials for shelter, we aim to contribute for resilience of these 12 families, helping them for better living conditions. Our dedicated team worked to identify the most vulnerable households and ensure that the resources reached to those who needed them the most.

Our involvement in this area extends beyond the current distribution. In December of the previous year, we undertook an initiative where we provided essential food items to more than 150 families from the same region, including the 12 families who have now received the shelter materials.

Through such interventions, we strive to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of the community members in Borta, enabling them to overcome temporary challenges and move towards a more sustainable and secure future. PHASE Nepal successfully provided essential construction materials and school supplies to the 12 households affected by the landslide in Borta Bajura. The timely assistance has helped the families begin their journey towards recovery and rehabilitation.

Here is the detail of Materials that are distribute to 12 household that are affected by the landslide:

CGI Sheet 6ft: 44 pieces per household.

Plain Sheet: 36 feet per household.

Umbrella Nails: 5 kilograms per household.

Plain Nails 3 inch: 3 kilograms per household.

Kabja: 4 pieces per household.

Door Lock: 1 piece per household.

Door Handle: 2 pieces per household.

Gabion Wire: 5 kilograms per household.

School Materials Distribution:

In addition to construction materials, school materials were also provided to benefit the local educational institutions and children in the area. The distribution of school materials has contributed to enhancing educational opportunities for the local children and promoting learning in the community. The distribution included:

Cushion: 25 pieces.

Whiteboard (5*3): 5 pieces.

Volleyball (N5): 2 pieces.

Football: 1 piece.

Badminton Set: 1 set.

Board Marker: 12 pieces.

Ink for Refill (500ml): 2 bottles.

Act Lock: 2 pieces.

Nepali Grammar: 1 book.

Science Guide Book: 1 book.

English Grammar: 1 book.

We are grateful to our donors and supporters whose contributions make these initiatives possible, allowing us to continue our mission of serving those in need. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the donors for your invaluable support, which has made a significant difference in the lives of those affected by this natural disaster. Your generosity has enabled us to make a positive impact, and we are committed to furthering our efforts in remote areas.

Dear Friends, with your support and contribution we are able to reach out with dry food items to 955 people of 155 landslide affected families of Rugin and Bichhya in Himali Rural Municipality in Bajura district in December 2022.

 As you may be aware, Nepal is a high-risk country for natural disasters and is still recovering from the deadly earthquake in 2015 that badly affected central Nepal. The Far West of Nepal is very mountainous and with little road access. In October 2022, far western mountain region of Nepal experienced a devastating landslide, damaging homes, destroying farmland and public buildings and displacing 155 families in the Bajura District where PHASE Nepal has been implementing health and livelihoods projects

The local government informed that 186 houses in Himali Rural Municipality are at risk of water-induced disasters. Several villages in the district are not safe from landslides and floods. Disasters can hit the settlements any time. Residents of these settlements should be relocated at the earliest Point.

Based on the discussions with the local government, PHASE Nepal distributed dry food items to the needy people affected by landslide. Each family got 50 kg of rice, 5 kg of rice, 3 litres of vegetable Oil, 5 kg of grams and 2 kg of salt.

Distributions (Beneficiary details) :  

Altogether 155 families received dry food items from PHASE Nepal which was funded by GlobalGiving and Go Philanthropic foundation. The food items distributed on December 17, 2022 will be adequate for 45 days to two months for the landslide affected families.

 Earthquake response in Bichhya, Bajura

 Since recovery efforts were underway however, this landslide has since been followed by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake, which struck the Bichhya village in Bajura District in late January 2023. The earthquake destroyed few private houses and health post buildings in two villages where PHASE is working. PHASE Nepal has provided 4 tents to resume health services and added extra medicine to the health facilities. In total, 41 houses had completely damaged and 170 houses had partially damaged in Rugin and Bichhya. Fortunately, no one was dead and a few injured were got recovered with primary treatment at PHASE supported health facilities. PHASE Nepal is asked to support the rebuilding of damaged health post building in Rugin in Bajura district.

A good coordination with local government authorities and locally working organization has somehow increased the effectiveness of the program. In addition, this has avoided the duplications and included disable people who are highly in need of such relief materials.

We look forward to getting your continuous support in the coming days too.

PHASE Nepal Family

Namaste Friends,

We hope everything is going well for you and that you are safe.

As you know, Nepal is one of the countries in the world that is vulnerable to several seasonal disasters including others like earthquakes. Every year several communities across Nepal are suffered from the losses, threats and risks from flooding and landslides during monsoon seasons starting from June to September. This period is the most awaited season by the farmers and also the most vulnerable because every year comes with huge damage.

PHASE Nepal has been working with such vulnerable communities with essential health and livelihood needs, along with emergency response when required. We have implemented disaster risk reduction activities at various districts. Like, we have been able to support 113 families in rebuilding their homes and support them with livelihood activities.

Besides, we have continued to restore livelihood needs in the affected community in four Rural Municipalities of the Gorkha district. Thank you for your continuous effort in supporting the vulnerable earthquake-affected community in Nepal.

In later times, this year due to untimely October rainfall, at the Karnali province of Nepal, heavy damage was done by the landslide. Where thousands of people were evacuated, their homes have been damaged in the flooding, several people are missing across the province and hundreds of hectares of crops have been washed by the flash floods. Due to landslides until today, vehicle movement at various remote road sections are disrupted including PHASE project sites. Due to this even delivery of essential medicines is delayed.

Especially, at Bajura district, at Rugin village, one of PHASE project sites, the damage due to incessant rainfall is huge. A whole village is evacuated. Where at total of 16 houses are completely damaged, 139 houses are damaged partially and about 152 families are displaced. In this village PHASE has supported health services and agricultural activities. Several farmers lost their poly-tunnels made for off season vegetable cultivation, kiwi fruit farm, home vegetable gardens, spice crops and poultry supported by PHASE. It is devastating!

The damage has been huge, they are in dire need of essential daily needs and warm shelter as winter in Nepal has just started. The winter might be damaging to vulnerable people like children, elderly persons and pregnant and lactating women, persons with disabilities, and people having chronic diseases.

With the support of the GlobalGiving fund, essential items like rice-50 kg, lentils-10kg, chickpeas-10kg, cooking oil-3 liter, and salt- 2 kg are already on board to the Rugin village.

Your generous contribution is highly awaited and will be a great support to the families displaced due to the landslides. This support which will reach to the community as soon as possible through the landslide and flood relief and recovery efforts, the fund will add on to meet the immediate needs for food, water, medicine, and shelter to the displaced families in Rugin village in Bajura.

Thank you so much for your continued support and would expect similar help for needy communities.

Thank you for your support.

PHASE Nepal Family

Namaste Friends,

We hope everything is going well for you and that you are safe. We're here to bring you the latest news from the earthquake-affected areas of Nepal. Thank you for your generous support, with which even after seven years of the major earthquake, 113 families deprived of rebuilding were identified and supported for rebuilding their houses. Besides, we have continued to restore livelihood needs in the affected community in four Rural Municipalities of Gorkha district.

 In later times, we worked to improve the livelihood opportunities in the earthquake-affected communities. We formed farmer's groups where the members are learning various improved farming techniques from agriculture staff along with group mentoring. 21 members from the group also collect monthly saving amounts, which are invested by the group member as a loan with minimum interest.

 The group aims to connect local farmers for collective interest and reach for farmer’s services at the ward level, which also supports to build leadership skills of the group members.

 Recently we met Saroj Lama (Name Changed), a group member who shares, “With the formation of the group, we have been able to understand the value of collective voice. We are practicing collective farming and creating employment for our members locally. With the formation of this group, we are able to accumulate the scattered capital of the village and use it for the benefit of each other. Thank you for mentoring us. We hope to coordinate with the local administration and build sustainable income for each of us.”

With the project, the earthquake-affected communities are supported with technical (agriculture and reconstruction) staff, building materials, farming seed materials, and intense follow-up support in order to ensure the rebuilding of the homes and restore livelihood opportunities.

In addition, we have also been addressing the crisis created due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the cases of malnutrition among children and mothers in Nepal's far-western districts. We continue to provide them with food items: rice, lentils, and cooking oil, which they utilized to prepare a nutritious meal for the mother and baby.

With Nepal being prone to various natural disasters, we will continue to carry out disaster preparedness training, backup essentials, and emergency kits for vulnerable children, women, elder persons, persons living with disabilities, and ultra-poor groups.  We aim to mitigate the effects of future natural disasters while rebuilding existing disaster-stricken areas. This is made possible by funding from several generous and heartily contributors like you.

Thank you so much for your continued support and would expect similar support in the future.

Thank you for your support.

PHASE Nepal Family

Namaste Friends,

We hope everything is going well for you and that you are safe. We're here to bring you the latest news from the earthquake-affected areas of Nepal. We have been able to continue our support for the past six years, rebuilding housing, and public infrastructure, and restoring livelihood support in the community, thank you for your generous support.

We have completed the reconstruction of 113 homes for vulnerable people (single women, persons living with disabilities, ultra-poor, elderly people) like Man bahadur (Name changed) (52 years) with your generous support and in coordination with local government in four Rural Municipalities of Gorkha district. We also provided small animals (goats, poultry) for livelihood support.

Man bahadur’s home was collapsed to the ground by the earthquake. He couldn’t register for the housing reconstruction grant scheme even though his house was completely destroyed. Due to missing papers which is needed to enlist as a beneficiary at the government level. He used to work as a potter for tourists with his wife, but that was forced to close due to the earthquake and now pandemic.

"Finally, after years of staying in a temporary shed, I have a home," he says. PHASE has acted in the same way that my parents would have. PHASE assisted me in constructing my home. Now neither the monsoon nor the winter will be a burden to me."

The project supplied technical staff, building materials, and intense follow-up support to people like him in order to expedite and ensure the rebuilding of their homes.

In addition, we put effort to address various humanitarian needs in our project areas, such as in recent days, the food supply chain being hampered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the cases of malnutrition among children and mothers in Nepal's far-western districts. We provided them food items: rice, lentils, and cooking oil, which they utilized to prepare a nutritious meal for the mother and baby.

Likewise, Nepal being a country with the most scenic but also active Himalayan ranges, makes it prone to various unpredictable natural disasters. We are driven to be prepared with the required emergency supplies and methods to build up the necessary resources to prevent the loss of Himalayan communities.

For which we need your further support for addressing the immediate needs and support to ensure that the infrastructure and services meet the needs of the local people. Using earthquake-resistant building techniques and focusing on livelihood development to increase disaster resilience for the future.

We wholeheartedly appreciate your continued support and would expect similar support in the future.

Thank you for your support.

PHASE Nepal Family