DEVASTATING EARHQUAKE HITS NEPAL APRIL May 2015 ICA lending hand to the Earthquake Victims Across Nepal Earthquake Relief and Recovery Report

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1 DEVASTATING EARHQUAKE HITS NEPAL APRIL May 2015 ICA lending hand to the Earthquake Victims Across Nepal Earthquake Relief and Recovery Report Submitted by: ICA Nepal Kriti Marg, Koteshwor Phone:

2 Second Big Earthquake Hits Nepal I was preparing this report last Tuesday (12 May) at the ICA Office Koteshwor while the second big earthquake magnitude of 6.8 Richter scale (according to Nepal National Seismological Centre while USGS recorded 7.3) hit Nepal. Life has started to return to normalcy and many of us were carrying out our daily routines in regular manner but the Tuesday s earthquake shook everyone and for last few days most of people in Kathmandu are spending day and nights outside in tents and tarpaulins. The second big earthquake has killed 117 and injured over 2000 people. Nepal has already been badly devastated by the earthquake hit on 25 April The impact of the earthquake is so massive that more than 8000 people are killed, over injured and thousands of houses damaged. After the second earthquake, there have been reports of landslides in different parts of the country which has delayed the rescue and relief operations. Due to geographical difficulties, though the three weeks have been passed after the earthquake, still hundreds of people are awaiting the tents or temporary shelter. In a few weeks of now, monsoon is predicted to start, thus, there is an urgency to focus on rehabilitation and recovery activities. Responses undertaken by ICA Nepal so far: Immediately after the quake ICA Nepal responded quickly to help community with relief materials such food supplies, drinking water and medicines.

3 We visited the earthquake affected areas, instantly after the earthquake, inside the Kathmandu valley and assessed the situation. Initially, ICA Nepal helped people of Bhaktapur and Bungmati with drinking water bottles. We provided 1000 water bottles in the two locations. While visiting Bungamati, we also visited Tri Ratna School and learned the damages caused by the earthquake in the school. ICA Nepal massively distributed food supplies to the different earthquake affected locations. So, far we have reached to Sindhupalchowk, Changunarayan, Dhading, Bungamati (Tri Ratna School), Sangla, Nala, Gorkha with our food supplies. The food materials we provided include the set of salt, daal, rice, nutrella, beaten rice, masala, noodles, biscuits, drinking water along with a bucket, mug, plate and spoon, tarpaulin, blanket, and medicine (Gorkha). So far we have served 1000 families. We contacted our local NGO partners (working in the sectors of PWDs) and tried to know about their status. We managed to help Entire Power for Social Action (EPSA), Disabled Service Centre (DSC), and Nepal Integrated Blind Association (NIBDA) with basic food supplies. We are saddened to find the how PWDs are living in pitying situation. The most marginalized people have been severely affected by the earthquake.

4 Phase II- Rehabilitating and Rebuilding Activity While distributing the relief materials, we are continuously working out on our second phase approach. Gradually, we have started to focus on rehabilitating and rebuilding response to the ground. As monsoon is approaching it has become urgent need to build a shelter for thousands of people living in an open space. Clearing up rubble in Changu Narayan A group of volunteers from USA and India joined hands with ICA Nepal and local community to clear up the rubble and debris in Changu Narayan Bhaktapur.

5 We started with helping an old man (aged 82 years old) named Mr. Purna B. Tamang to clear up the rubble of his house which is completely damaged. In coming days, ICA Nepal will continue to work with local community and Progressive Women Group in Changunarayan to help the neediest people to clear up the debris. Our effort does not end here. ICA Nepal team is taking a step ahead and building a house for Mr. Tamang in Changunarayan using Earthbag Technology. The effort is reinforced by international volunteers from US and India (Sierra, Randy, Manba, Karthik, Sandesh, Yomri), Dr. Subas Risal (Pro Park Pvt. Ltd), Progressive Women Groups, Engineers from Khwapa Engineering College and many others. Earthbag Technology Earthbag homes are houses built using rice bags filled with soil for the walls. The rice bags are held in place and strengthened using barbed wire and covered with plaster or adobe to shed water and to prevent any degradation from solar radiation. This construction technique can be used for emergency shelters, temporary or permanent housing and barns. It is frequently chosen for many small-to-medium-sized institutional structures in the world. Earthbag homes are claimed to have economic, social, environmental and logistic benefits.

6 ICA Nepal Volunteers is currently working on building such house in Changu for 82 years old man. He is partially blind and living with a married daughter. He does not want to leave his house (though completely damaged) and go at his daughter s place for shelter. His daughter along with her husband and children are also living in a tent. There is no other family members to take care of him.

7 ICA Nepal s Initiation to Rebuild Schools The 7.9 temblor have not only killed thousands of people but damaged more than 5000 schools. It has been reported that a large proportion of both private and public schools have fully or partially destroyed. It appears that earthquake will have long-term consequences in Nepali education system. As a result of the earthquake, most of the state-run and private schools are closed until the immediate crisis is dealt with. Both the state-run and private schools have stopped running their classes as the buildings are not in a good shape for resumption. In addition, the houses in the affected villages have collapsed that resulted in burial of the children s books and school uniforms. Children appear to be still seriously traumatized. It is highly likely that these children will develop anxiety and other psychological disorders.

8 April being the new academic session in Nepal, children had begun their new classes just for a month. However, now the school buildings have collapsed and the grounds have turned into shelters for earthquake victims. Education Ministry of the country has urged schools to resume classes from 15 May. But, after the second earthquake, it has been now postponed to 30 May. Over one million children have been directly affected and some have even become separated from their families. At least 950,000 children will not be able to return to their schools unless urgent action is taken to provide temporary learning spaces. Thus, ICA Nepal in its response to the earthquake devastation, is working on the rebuild schools in remote areas of Nepal. For this, ICA Nepal visited Tri Ratna School located at Bungamati, Lalitpur with some stationaries and food supplies and interacted with the Principal Mr. Madhukar Tuladhar regarding the school s situation. Tri Ratna School s building is completely damaged and currently they are running their classes in tents. They reported that basically they are focusing on children friendly education. Several local organizations, agencies, friends, well-wishers and volunteers from national and international corners have come forward to join hands with ICA Nepal in its initiation to relief and rehabilitation works. ICA Nepal appreciates everyone for lending hands to rise Nepal again. ICA Nepal Team visited Dr. Iwamura Memorial Hospital located in Bhaktapur and assess the situation. In pic, the new emergency department of hospital has been damaged by the earthquake (25 April)

9 We managed to send blankets and tarpaulin along with nutrella, salt, beaten rice, rice, noodles, daal and medicines to Gorkha district. These goods are needed to be carried as the affected areas do not have access to roads. We were preparing these materials while the second earthquake (aftershocks) hit Nepal. ICA USA on behalf of ICA Nepal is raising fund for Earthquake Relief Fund which will be used for relief, recovery and rehabilitation activities for earthquake affected people in Nepal. ICA-USA will be accepting donations to send to ICA-Nepal. Your gifts will be tax deductible and the entire amount donated will be sent to Nepal. ICA Nepal acknowledges global community and volunteers for lending a hand to help Nepal rise again. Institute of Cultural Affairs- USA 4750 N. Sheridan Chicago, IL You may send your support directly clicking to: or ICA Nepal Acc. No.: SWIFT Code: SCBLNPKA Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank Address: New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal Report Prepared by Ishu Subba Executive Director ICA Nepal