Rapid Needs Assessment Was the Information Presented in This Report Was Done
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Follow-up Needs Assessment Report (1 month on) – Plan International Nepal Earthquake in Nepal 1. General information: Name and the nature of the disaster Earthquake 7.8 magnitude on 25th May and 7.3 magnitude earthquake on 12th May – Nepal Date/s on which the rapid needs assessment was The information presented in this report was done. taken from Plan assessments, the DDRC, other agencies assessments. Date on which the rapid needs assessment report is 25, 26, 27 and 28th of April 2015. being written. Additional information added 30th April 2015. Full name, job title, e-mail and phone number of the Lindsey Evans lindsey.evans@plan- team leader/ person writing the report. international.org and Katie Tong [email protected] 2. Situation Overview 2.1 Nature and intensity of the emergency On 25 April a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck 77 kilometers (48 miles) northwest of Nepal's capital Kathmandu on 25 Apr 2015. This was followed by a second earthquake measuring 7.3 on 12 May1. The epicenter for the second earthquake was South-East of Kodari (Sindhupalchowk District), 76 km northeast of Kathmandu - an area already affected by the 25th April Earthquake (OCHA, 12 May 2015). Aftershocks ranging between 4 and 6.3 in magnitude continue to cause landslides potentially cutting off road access to remote locations. Children and their families continue to live in informal settlements, either unable to return home due to the damaged or destroyed households or unwilling due to fear of further aftershocks. In addition the monsoon season which is due to start early June will present increased logistical challenges for agencies providing relief and recovery interventions. 2.2 Geographical extent/spread of the affected area Following the earthquakes on 25 April and 12 May (map opposite), the Government identified 14 ‘most affected districts’ (Bhaktapur, Dhading, Dolakha, Gorkha, Kavrepalanchwok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchwok, Makawanpur, Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga). In 12 of these 14 districts (Dolakha and Rasuwa data still pending) the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has identified the needs of 88,482 displaced people in 373 sites. The DTM data is available here. 1 Some sources such as USGS are referring to this as a large aftershock 1 A map detailing the estimated population directly affected by destroyed houses, as of 22nd May can be found here. Plan is responding in 3 priority districts and has limited interventions in 7 others. The map below identifies the areas of Plan’s emergency response. 2.3 Number of people affected As of 25 May (14:30, UTC+5:45), the Government confirmed that 500,717 houses were destroyed and 269,190 partially damaged by the two earthquakes and aftershocks (OCHA, 25 May). The death toll has increased to 8,676 people (3, 894 male and 4, 781 female) (Government of Nepal)2. The numbers of those injured are expected to be over 19,000, although as of 28th May this is not currently being reported by the Government. Humanitarian partners estimate 2.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Over 860,000 people are in immediate need due to loss of shelter, limited road access and poverty (OCHA, 25 May). It is thought that 3.2 million women are among the population affected by protection concerns, 525,000 are women of reproductive age, of whom 126,000 are pregnant. In addition 40,000 women and girls are at immediate risk of gender-based violence (Gender Equality Bulletin). Women are the first household members to reduce the frequency of meals, size of meals and diversity of food when access to food is insufficient. Pregnant and lactating women are at particular risk due to their higher nutritional requirements. According to the Food Security Cluster, fifty three percent of female headed households have either poor or borderline food consumption, compared to 44 percent for male headed households. 2.4 How many children are affected? According to UNICEF, 1.7 million children have been affected (as of 1st May). The repeated aftershocks and additional earthquake on 12th May continue to increase the trauma for children. After the first 2 The 1934 earthquake the death toll was 8, 599 (3, 850 male and 4, 669 female). Almost identical to the 2015 earthquake (The Great Earthquake) 2 earthquake it was reported that Government run relief camps have limited services available to protect children, as well as limited basic needs facilities. This further indicates the need for agencies to implement child protection and psychosocial support mechanisms. According to the Department of Education, a total of 32,145 classrooms were destroyed and 15,352 damaged in 42 districts as a result of the earthquakes on 25 April and 12 May. Education needs continue to increase as additional data from the districts becomes available. The Education Cluster estimated 999,000 children aged 3 to 18 years of age would be unable to return to their classrooms on the opening of schools on 31 May. Thousands more are identified as needing support to access education services (OCHA, 25 May). The closure of schools until 31 May will have an impact on children’s development as they will be unable to continue learning and have limited peer interactions and recreational activities, which can help reduce the impact of trauma. It is estimated that 15, 000 children (6 to 59 months) have severe acute malnutrition and require therapeutic feeding. In addition there are 70,000 children (6 to 59 months) have acute malnutrition and require supplementary feeding. Mother of children (0 to 23 months) who require breastfeeding support is estimated at 168, 000 (OCHA, 18 May 2015). At least 70 per cent of birthing centres across the 14 most affected districts of Nepal have been damaged or destroyed, rising to 90 per cent in some areas. With surviving facilities overwhelmed, many pregnant women have been left without access to the healthcare they need to ensure the safe delivery of their babies. Thousands have also lost their homes, leaving mothers without a safe place to stay with their newborns (UNICEF). 3. Methodology Eight Rapid Needs Assessment teams comprising of different sectoral specialist were deployed to conduct assessments with the support of local implementing partners. Plan has completed RNAs in Makwanpur, Kathmandu Valley (Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu), Dolakha , Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok. Details are as follows: - 3 teams covered Kathmandu valley - 1 team for Dolakha, Ramechhap districts - 1 team for Tanahu and Kavrepalanchok districts - 3 teams from the Program Unit covered Makwanpur, Sindhuli and Baglon areas Primary data collection was made through key stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions, direct observations and household interviews. An RNA questionnaire was used as a primary source for understanding the situation in the ground. Secondary data from District Relief Commissioner’s office, Village Development Committees and other Humanitarian agencies supplemented initial findings from Plan’s RNAs. Information from school teachers, police department, village heads, youth clubs were also collected. 4. Needs by district Sindupalchowk As per the DCWB record 3,426 people died (943 male, 1357 female, 547 (Plan target VDCs - boys and 579 girls). 734 male, 578 female, 110 boys, and 148 girls Badegau, Bhimtar, injured. 21 children lost their both parents. Bhotasipa, Two weeks after the first earthquake destroyed more than 80% of Jyamire, Kunchok, houses in the assessed VDCs, another 7.3 magnitude earthquake led to Langarche, the destruction of additional housing to such an extent that these are 3 Nawalpur, now inhabitable. Sikharpur, Sipa In Plan’s 13 target VDCs, 98 schools are affected by the earthquake (61 Pokhare, Sipal schools are primary level (grade 1 to 5) schools and 37 are lower Kavre, Syaule, secondary/secondary level schools). Batase Out of 628 classrooms in these schools, 455 classrooms are fully Bhotenamlang) damaged, 243 classrooms have a major damaged, 103 classrooms have a minor damaged and 20 classrooms have no damaged. In Plan’s target VDCs, damaged toilets are reported in 85 schools. Water facilities are damaged in 56 schools, in 12 schools these are unusable and in 30 schools there are no water facilities at all. In all of Plan’s 13 VDCs, some small shop are open that sell daily items such as food and drinks. However hard ware construction materials are not available. In large areas of Sindupalchowk it is reported that markets are still not functioning. In Mountain areas market access continues to be severely constrained. Most markets are still closed and travel time is up to 2.5 hours. According to initial assessments, the condition of water sources and access to sanitation facilities varies by location. Some villages have found additional water sources or have temporarily fixed their water source where broken. Lack of latrines and the absence of electricity in the villages exposes especially women and girls to risks related to gender based violence. In Jyamire and Sirkarpur there are several reported cases of diarrhoea which were treated in the health post with minimum services. For other Plan target VDCs there are no reports of disease outbreaks. In Plan’s target VDCs 5 district hospitals are totally damaged, whilst 7 are identified as partially damaged. Toilets are usable in the health facilities in Nawalpur and Sirkapur, partially damaged in Jyamire and totally damaged in Sipa Pokhare. No health facilities have a regular supply of drinking water. Villages close to road networks have reported receiving a lot of relief items, whilst those in remote villages have reported limited access to aid. There is no report about trafficking and or abuse cases. Dolakha (Plan According to DDRC, 90% of houses were severely damaged after the target VDCs - first earthquake. The second earthquake on 12 May resulted in houses Lapilang, previously reported as partially damaged to be completely destroyed.