Detailed Needs Assessment In Ramechhap District, Nepal
A house in Bhujee VDC, Ramechhap District.
ACTED HQ 33, rue Godot de Mauroy ACTED Nepal 75009 Paris,France March 2016 Tel: +33 1 42653333 [email protected]
Contents INTRODUCTION ...... 5 METHODOLOGY...... 6 Tools...... 6 Sample size ...... 6 Data collection and Analysis...... 6 Limitations ...... 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... 9 Main findings ...... 9 Demographics & Contextual Background ...... 9 Shelter ...... 10 Non Food Items ...... 10 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ...... 10 Food security ...... 11 Livelihood ...... 11 Education ...... 12 Health ...... 13 Coping Strategies ...... 13 MAIN FINDINGS ...... 14 I. Demographics ...... 14 II. Contextual Background...... 15 1. Ward Accessibility ...... 15 2. Market Accessibility and Functionality ...... 16 a. Commonly Purchased Commodities ...... 17 b. Availability of Commodities in Local Markets ...... 19 III. Shelter ...... 20 1. Type of Housing...... 20 2. Extent of Damage to Homes ...... 21 3. Shelter Assistance Received ...... 24 4. Shelter Needs of the Communities ...... 26 5. Women’s Perspective on Shelter Needs ...... 27 IV. Non-Food Items ...... 27 1. NFI Assistance Received ...... 28 2. NFI Needs of the Communities ...... 28 3. Women’s Perspective on NFI Needs ...... 29 V. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ...... 29 1. Main Sources of Drinking Water ...... 29
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 2
2. Damage to Water Sources ...... 30 3. Women’s Perspective on Damage to Water Sources ...... 31 4. Water Source Needs of the Communities ...... 32 5. Latrines and Hygiene Practices ...... 32 6. Women’s Perspective on Latrines and Hygiene Practices ...... 33 VI. Food Security ...... 33 1. Food Assistance Received ...... 33 2. Food Needs of the Communities ...... 34 3. Women’s Perspective on Food Needs ...... 35 VII. Livelihoods...... 36 1. Main Livelihoods ...... 36 2. Crop agriculture ...... 37 3. Planting and Harvesting Months ...... 37 4. Livestock rearing...... 40 5. Women’s Perspective on Livelihoods...... 40 6. Division of Labour ...... 41 7. Women’s Perspective on Division of Labour ...... 41 8. Livelihood Assistance Received ...... 42 9. Livelihood Needs of the Communities ...... 43 10. Women’s Perspective on Livelihoods Needs ...... 43 VIII. Education ...... 44 1. Access to Education ...... 44 2. Women’s Perspective on Access to Education ...... 45 3. Educational Needs...... 46 IX. Health ...... 46 1. Access to Health Facilities ...... 46 2. Women’s Perspective on Access to Health Facilities ...... 47 3. Healthcare Needs ...... 48 X. Coping Strategies ...... 48 1. Most Common Coping Strategies ...... 48 2. Women’s Perspective on Coping Strategies ...... 50 3. Negative Coping Strategies ...... 50 Conclusions ...... 52 Shelter ...... 52 Non Food Items ...... 52 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ...... 52 Food Security ...... 53
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 3
Livelihood ...... 53 Education ...... 54 Health ...... 54 Coping Strategies ...... 54 ANNEXES ...... 55 Annex 1 – Markets in Ramechhap ...... 55 Annex 2 - Gravity Water Supply Schemes Damaged but Functioning ...... 56 Annex 3 – Gravity Water Supply Schemes Destroyed and Non-Functioning ...... 58
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 4
INTRODUCTION
On the 25th April 2015, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 earthquake, causing major damages to houses and infrastructures, killing over 8,800 people and injuring thousands more. The Government of Nepal (GoN) has reported that 30 out of overall 75 districts were affected, including highly populated areas in Kathmandu Valley but mostly remote areas in the mountains, especially Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Nuwakot, Rasuva, and Dolakha districts in the central region and in Kaski, Gorkha, Lamnjung districts in the Western region.
A subsequent 7.3 earthquake hit the country on the 12th May 2015, with its epicentre in Sindhupalchowk. There were multiple aftershocks. Thousands of families slept outside in makeshift shelters in fear of further collapsing. Overall, the April and May earthquakes left 8,891 people dead, destroyed more than 600,000 houses, and damaged another 290,000 houses. During the height of the emergency, some 188,900 people were temporarily displaced1. This adds up to more than two thirds of the country’s buildings having been affected by the 2015 earthquakes.
ACTED established its Nepal mission two days after the first earthquake. It has since distributed emergency relief items, rehabilitated basic infrastructure, trained masons on how to build back safer, and conducted 6 district-level detailed needs assessments. ACTED has its capital office in Kathmandu and operates in Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Dhading, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, and Ramechhap districts.
In December 2015, ACTED conducted a detailed assessment on the vulnerabilities and needs of the affected communities in Ramechhap district, which has not been well-served by humanitarian agencies. The main objectives of this assessment were: i) to inform the Project Development Department (PDD) on the needs of the communities in order to design future projects, and ii) to inform coordination on the needs of communities in order to target the most vulnerable and overlooked households.
1 Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, “Nepal Six Months On: A Race Against Winter”, http://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-six- months-race-against-winter, accessed 01 March 2016
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 5
METHODOLOGY Tools
This assessment was based on quantitative tools. Two quantitative surveys with Key-Informant Interviews (KII) were used to collect quantitative data to provide ACTED with detailed findings and statistics on the needs and vulnerabilities of the targeted communities.
Considering Nepal’s ranking on the Gender Inequality Index2 and the significant level of discrimination towards women and girls, ACTED’s Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (AMEU) also developed tools aiming at providing ACTED with a comprehensive understanding of women’s perspectives regarding the specific challenges they face and the urgent needs that need to be covered.
The survey questionnaires were conducted at the ward level, with ward leaders (or, if not available, with an individual with good knowledge of the ward and respected authority, such as teachers) and with prominent female figures, including teachers, Women Committee leaders and Female Committee Health Volunteers. These tools aimed at understanding the needs and vulnerabilities of communities in ACTED targeted areas. Both questionnaires collected quantitative information on the needs of the communities in terms of shelter, non-food items (NFI), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health and education, food security, livelihoods and coping strategies of households. The ward leaders questionnaires collected more detailed information on demographics of the ward, relief received, infrastructures present in the ward, damages (to houses and infrastructure) and markets available. Sample size
Data for this DNA was collected in only 7 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Ramechhap in order to avoid overlap with other DNAs being conducted by other INGOs in other VDCs of the district. The VDCs where ACTED’s AME Unit conducted the DNA are Betali, Bhujee, Duragau, Guptesor, Kubukasthali, Namadi and Farpu. All nine wards in each VDC were assessed. In total, 63 ward leaders (4 of whom were female) and 63 women leaders were interviewed, including 20 female Committee Health Volunteers, 24 Women Committee Members, 2 Women Leaders, 14 teachers and 3 others. Data collection and analysis
Data was collected in the field from 16th December to 20th December 2015. Enumerators were daily workers hired by ACTED for this specific task. Forms were crosschecked to avoid any discrepancies
2 http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/gender-inequality-index-gii (accessed 17/02/16)
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 6
in data by the AME Officer. Quantitative analysis was done using Excel software by ACTED’s AMEU team in Kathmandu. Limitations
AMEU identified three main limitations to this assessment.
1. Demographic data can only be collected on registered households, except for the case where ward leaders have information on the number of landless people in their ward. Indeed, at the beginning of ACTED mission in Nepal, AMEU discovered that only land and/or property owners could register their households in their respective wards. Local authorities do not recognize landless people as ward inhabitants. Lessees, for example, are not registered on official records. This very often leads to blunt discrimination towards unregistered households/landless people in terms of accessing relief. These households count therefore amongst the most vulnerable of all; however, INGOs including ACTED, do not always have access to their contact details in order to include them in their beneficiaries’ lists.
2. Figures were sometimes conflicting between the data collected from ward leaders and women leaders. AMEU favoured information data collected from women’s questionnaires when conflicting numbers referred to women-related issues; and favoured data obtained from ward leaders when the question required solid knowledge about community structures and general organisation of the wards since the earthquakes. Yet both women leaders’ data and ward leaders’ data were always used for comparison.
3. Most figures, especially those related to demographics, distance to infrastructure/market and livelihoods, are based on rough estimations provided by our respondents who might not always have sufficient knowledge to give an accurate answer. For all statistics calculations, the total number of households provided by ward leaders has been used.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 7
Areas of Assessment
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Main findings Demographics & Contextual Background
The total population for the 7 targeted VDCs is approximately 31,674 people for 5,401 households. The average household size is almost 6 members. There is a significant proportion of women-headed households in all assessed VDCs; on average, women-headed households represent 22% of all households. More than half of the households are headed by an elderly member across all VDCs. 39% of the surveyed households belong to the Chhetri group, 21% are Sunwar, 14% are Tamang, and the rest of the groups are represented by fewer than 10% of households. Fewer than half of the surveyed wards were connected to a main road before the earthquakes. None of the surveyed wards were accessible by normal car before the earthquake or since. All required either 4x4 vehicle, big truck, or were completely inaccessible to all vehicles. Overall, 33% of assessed wards are accessible by foot only. Just under half (46%) of ward leaders replied that their wards have physical accessibility to the nearest food and hygiene market. However, 67% of markets that were closed after the earthquakes have not resumed functioning. More than one-third (35%) of ward leaders indicated that the demand for food has been reduced since the earthquakes. The price of food has increased in all wards as a result of the earthquakes. The most commonly purchased food items are salt, sugar, honey, oils and fats. The least commonly purchased food items are vegetables and milk products. The most commonly purchased non-food items are agricultural tools, vegetables seeds, and CGI sheets. The purchase of cooking gas and fuel is not frequent. Only one quarter of ward leaders answered that the nearest food markets have the capacity to fulfill all the needs of their customers. Community members go to market by foot and it takes them 62 minutes on average. After the earthquakes, 57% of ward leaders replied that it takes longer to go to the market after the earthquakes. On average, the surveyed households across the 7 VDCs earns NPR 4,421 per month. They use 54% of their income on food and 19% on hygiene items. None of the wards have regular access to fuel or propane gas. Due to the fuel and cooking gas crises, community members have started consuming less food, and their frequency to visit markets has also been reduced.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 9
Shelter
Mud and stone houses are the most popular type of houses across the 7 VDCs (83%). A full 93% of houses are not repairable due to the high level of destruction suffered during the earthquakes. Only 3% of houses did not suffer any damage, and only 4% suffered damage but were repairable. The rest (93% - 5,014 houses) were either completely collapsed or damaged beyond repair. When it comes to shelter assistance received, 92% of households received tarpaulins, 40% received CGI sheets, and 5% received shelter kits in Ramechhap. A total of 92% of ward leaders replied that the shelter needs of their ward were not met by the assistance received at the time of the assessment. And 98% of ward leaders believe that the current state of the shelters is not warm enough for the winter season. Only about 3% of the population still lives in their former undamaged house and another 3% have built a new house since the earthquakes. Most households are living in makeshift temporary shelters vulnerable to the elements months after the first earthquake. The most important shelter need by far is CGI sheets. After that, assistance with building shelters, training for safer building techniques, and tarps are also high priority.
Non Food Items
Non-Food Items assistance coverage has been very low in Ramechhap. Only one quarter of ward leaders replied receiving NFI assistance for their ward from the government. A total of 54% of households have received bedding equipment, 47% received kitchen sets, 14% received tool kits, 11% received hygiene kits, 5% received solar lamps, and 1% received clothing in Ramechhap. The NFI priority needs differ significantly between women leaders and ward leaders. Both groups rank tool kits (in 2nd priority for ward leaders, and 3rd priority for women leaders) and both rank clothing (in 3rd priority for ward leaders and 5th priority for women leaders). However, women rank kitchen sets as their number one need, with other important items being blankets and water storage units. As for ward leaders, their number one need is solar lamps.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Gravity water supply schemes are the most common sources of drinking water, with a total of 176 schemes reported to cover water needs of 5,134 households (95% of all households in assessed VDCs).
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 10
44% of the gravity water supply schemes have been completely destroyed by the earthquakes and are no longer functional. 3,722 households have thus been left with no or limited access to drinking water after the earthquakes – 70% of the assessed population. For those VDCs where water source has been damaged or destroyed, residents had to walk an average of 35 minutes (with a maximum of 68 minutes) to reach water sources. Galvanized iron pipes were ranked as the most urgent materials to improve the water situation in Ramechhap district. Following the earthquakes, access to latrines has been greatly reduced. The percentage of households possessing septic tank latrines fell from 70% to 56%. Open defecation is reported as a solution by 38% of ward leaders for those who do not have access to latrines. This is up from 6% before the earthquakes. One-fifth (22%) of community members are sharing latrines between several households, up from 2% before the earthquakes. o Protection Issues in WASH: . Women and girls are disproportionately carrying the burden of responsibility for collecting water for daily needs, with 79% of the women leaders answering that it is either the women, or the young girls, collecting water daily. . One-third of women leaders replied that the earthquakes have negatively impacted girls’ education because girls now take a longer time to fetch water and have to go during morning classes.
Food security
Households in the 7 assessed VDCs of Ramechhap have received some food items as relief: 87% received rice, 36% received oils/fats, 30% received lentils, 23% received vegetables, and 15% received sugar/salt. Over half (52%) of the wards that received food assistance reported that the food basket distributed would only last one to two weeks. In fact, 40% estimate that it would last less than one week. Rice is undeniably the number one food need in all communities. Although most communities received rice during the emergency, these supplies only lasted a few weeks for most households. There is remarkable consensus between the women leaders and the ward leaders about the communities’ top food needs, with the top three items (rice, oils and fats, and lentils) holding the top 3 positions, and sugar and salt, and meat and fish, vying for fourth and fifth places.
Livelihood
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 11
The main livelihood for households in Ramechhap revolves around subsistence agriculture, with most households combining more than one related activity. 83% of households rely on crop cultivation. Maize, millet, potatoes, vegetables, rice, barley and wheat are the most cultivated crops in Ramechhap. All these crops are mostly used for personal household consumption. Only 28% of households did not suffer agricultural losses as a result of the earthquakes. One-third (31%) lost their agricultural land during the earthquakes; 20% have lost their harvest for this season due to the earthquakes; and 21% have lost their agricultural inputs (e.g. tools, seeds, storage facilities) for this season due to the earthquakes. The majority of community members make decisions in coordination with both women and women for all activities regarding agricultural production. Men are the main providers in surveyed households, according to 92% of women leaders. However, women contribute on average one quarter of household income. Livelihood assistance, consisting of seeds, has only reached 40% (2,141 households) of the assessed population in Ramechhap. Besides seeds, no other livelihood-related assistance was provided in the seven assessed VDCs in Ramechhap. Seeds are undeniably the number one livelihood need in Ramechhap, as they were ranked most important by both women leaders and ward leaders. There is also consensus that the other top needs are tools, animal feed, shelter for animals, and vocational training.
Education
There are approximately 11,332 students in Ramechhap, which would represent 36% of the total population. 91% of schools in Ramechhap were destroyed through the earthquakes. This includes all schools in Bhujee, Duragau, Guptesor, Kubukasthali and Namadi. Despite the level of destruction, almost all school teachers are still running classes for children and teenagers, as reported by ward leaders. The majority are operating in makeshift shelters (34%), in tents (57%), in the undamaged building (6%) and other solutions (2%). The earthquakes have had a noticeable impact on the ability of girls to attend school, as 30% of women leaders replied that households were giving priority to boys’ education because after the earthquakes, they did not have sufficient funds to pay for all children to attend classes. The reconstruction of the building is considered as a first priority by ward leaders.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 12
Health
On average, government health facilities are 3 kilometres away from households. The farthest facilities are in Namadi VDC, where 4.3 kilometres is the average. Only two-thirds (63%) of health centres are operating in the original building; 33% are operating in tents; and 3% reported that the health center had been shifted to makeshift shelters. In terms of caseload, the number of patient admissions per day before earthquakes was 22 on average per health facility. After the earthquakes, the caseload has increased to 30 people. Overall, 1,912 individuals visit each health centre per day. There are few options outside of government health centres. Private health facilities are very far from the villages (almost 16 kilometres on average) and charge for services. The most needed support to health centres in Ramechhap is medicine.
Coping Strategies
The most common strategy to deal with the losses resulting from the earthquakes was to migrate to other areas of the country in search of work. A large majority, 79% of households, plan to reduce their food expenses to compensate for the decrease in incomes. Half of the ward leaders replied that households in their areas plan to reduce their health expenses, while 41% replied that households would reduce how much they spend on education for their children. o Protection Issues in Coping Strategies: . Women and girls are adversely affected by the earthquakes: girls’ education is interrupted (in 20% of wards); girls under 18 are sent under the care of another household (2%); and girls move for job opportunities elsewhere (16% in Dugaruan, Farpu and Guptesor). . 19% of women leaders reported that girls under 18 have adopted negative coping strategies, with some of the most common being: taking work as a domestic work, rearing livestock, and working as porters.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 13
MAIN FINDINGS
I. Demographics
The total population for the seven targeted VDCs is approximately 31,674 people for 5401 households (see Table 1). The demographic data has been checked against the written records of VDCs. The average household size is almost six members across all seven VDCs.
Table 1.1. Population per VDC Number of Households Total Population Betali 1,251 7,585 Bhujee 626 3,295 Duragau 762 4,572 Guptesor 397 2,752 Kubukasthali 716 4,297 Namadi 977 5,065 Farpu 672 4,108 Total 5401 31,674
According to ward leaders and women leaders 1,192 households are headed by woman. This represents almost one quarter of households (22%). The women-headed households are as follows: 19.5% in Betali (200 HHs) 43% in Bhujee (103 HHs) 9.14% in Duragau (60 HHs) 46.4% in Guptesor (175 HHs) 11.4% in Kubukasthali (81 HHs) 40% in Namadi (389 HHs) 55% in Farpu (184 HHs)
More than half of the households are headed by an elderly member across all VDCs (56% - 3,048 households).
Another 11 of the assessed households (0.2%) are headed by a child and 69 (1.2%) are without an able-bodied member in the household.
Details on the number of households by caste can be found in Table 1.2.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 14
Table 1.2. Number of Households per VDC by caste Dalit Chhetri Tamang Gurung Newar Sherpa Brahaman Sunwar Rai Other Betali 209 648 14 0 21 0 143 61 0 155 Bhujee 68 30 40 0 100 10 0 378 0 0 Duragau 87 206 158 30 0 0 57 203 0 21 Guptesor 14 85 51 0 54 31 4 148 0 10 Kubukasthali 36 303 1 0 16 69 51 232 0 8 Namadi 69 610 139 26 11 0 5 59 0 58 Farpu 30 218 354 0 0 0 0 68 0 2 Total 513 2100 757 56 202 110 260 1149 0 254 Percentage 9% 39% 14% 1% 4% 2% 5% 21% 0 5%
II. Contextual Background
A total of 98% of ward leaders reported that their wards have been affected by both earthquakes, while 2% (one ward) reported being affected by the 25th April earthquake only. However, both earthquakes caused damage extensively in all 63 wards. 70% of wards were equally damaged by both earthquakes, 17% were damaged badly by the 25th April earthquake, and 13% were damaged widely by the 12th May earthquake. 1. Ward Accessibility
In terms of accessibility, ward leaders were asked if their respective wards were linked to or situated on the main road. Just over half (54%) of them answered positively. However, among those, 21% reported that the road was not functional at the moment. Among the wards that were not connected to a main road, none of the ward leaders replied that it was possible to connect the ward with manpower labour alone.
Ward leaders were also asked about different means of transportation. None of the wards were accessible by normal car before the earthquake or since. After the earthquake, 30% of wards were only accessibly by 4X4 vehicle, 44% were only accessible by big truck, and 33% were completely closed off to all vehicles. The proportions were the same before the earthquake, indicating that the earthquake did not severely impact the condition of the roads.
Overall, 33% of assessed wards are accessible by foot only.
Wards that are only accessible by foot usually require hours, sometimes days, of mountain trekking to reach a site. The number of wards that are only accessible by walking is expected to increase during the rainy season. Furthermore, trekking in Ramechhap can be extremely dangerous given the climate and general conditions; monsoon, regular rain, landslides, fog
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 15
and snow, as well as the lack of network coverage. All of this makes it difficult to ensure safety at all times. 2. Market Accessibility and Functionality
The following is a list of accessible and not accessible markets3 in the assessed VDCs: Bhujee has an accessible market with all basic supplies for food, hygiene, etc. Guptesor has an accessible market with all basic supplies for food, hygiene, etc. Duragau does not have a market that can fulfill basic needs. Ward 1 in Namadi does not have a market that can fulfill basic needs. Wards 1, 4, 5, and 6 in Kubukasthali do not have a market that can fulfill basic needs. Wards 2, 5, 6, and 7 in Farpu do not have a market that can fulfill basic needs. The following wards lack physical access to the markets: eight wards from Namadi (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), four from Farpu (1, 2, 8 and 9), four from Kubukasthali (1, 4, 5 and 6), and four from Betali (1, 2, 4 and 5).
A total of 42% of ward leaders indicate that their nearest market does not have all basic commodities. Just under half (46%) of ward leaders replied that their wards have physical accessibility to the nearest market. However, 67% of markets that were closed after the earthquakes have not resumed functioning.
In addition: The earthquakes destroyed market-related infrastructure in 43% of the wards; 86% of ward leaders replied that people face greater transportation problems to reach markets; For one third, people have been facing security problems.
On average, only 59% report to have a market accessible in their ward where they can buy food and non-food items.
It takes people 61 minutes on average to walk to their nearest functioning market in the assessed VDCs. However, in wards where there is no functioning market, people must walk more than double that time (135 minutes) to reach a nearby market. After the earthquakes, 57% of ward leaders replied that it takes longer to go to the market after the earthquakes.
Nearly half (43%) of Households visit markets twice a week and only one tenth visit markets on a daily basis. One third said that the market they usually visit is inaccessible due to landslides.
3 See Annex 1 for list of markets by ward, including average time to walk to nearest market in each ward.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 16
Table 2.1. Number of Markets Available for Households Avg. Time Avg. Number of to Walk to Average Number VDC Number of Markets Households per Nearest of Households Market Market (minutes) Betali 11 770 70 51 Bhujee 25 626 25 27 Duragau 1 91 91 121 Guptesor 10 325 33 51 Kubukasthali 9 612 68 55 Namadi 48 660 14 70 Farpu 9 665 74 56 Total 113 3,749 33 61
a. Commonly Purchased Commodities
Ward leaders were asked which commodities their ward members purchase regularly. Salt, sugar and honey, and oils and fats are the most common purchases. In second priority are cereals and tubers (maize, rice, potatoes, millet, etc.), pulses (lintel, beans, peas, nuts, etc.), meat and fish, and other items (condiments, spices, etc.). Finally, communities do not purchase vegetables and milk products regularly.
The table below indicates the commodities that community members need to buy regularly across seven VDCs. The findings show that: All community members need to buy salt regularly (100% of ward leaders indicated that their ward members regularly buy salt); Almost all households need to buy sugar/honey and oil/fats; More than half need to buy cereals, pulses and other (condiments, spices, etc.); One quarter need to buy fresh fruit and vegetables regularly; Only 16% need to buy milk product regularly from the market.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 17
Chart 2.2. Most Commonly-Purchased Food Items, by Percentage of Wards Cereals/tubers (maize, rice, 100% potatoes, millet, etc) 90% Pulses (lentils, peas, nuts, etc) 80% Fresh Vegetables 70% 60% Fresh Fruit 50% Meat and Fish 40% Milk, Cheese, Yoghurt 30%
20% Sugar/Honey 10% Oils/Fats 0% Salt
Others (condiments, spices, etc.)
The non-food items that communities need to purchase the most frequently are education materials, clothes, kitchen utensils, medicine and agricultural inputs. Communities do not buy fuel and gas as frequently.
Commodities that community member need to buy regularly, according to ward leaders; Medicines (83%); Agricultural tools (70%); Vegetables seeds (52%); CGI sheets (52%); Tools to build and repair shelter (48%); Cereals seeds (46%); Water for drinking, washing, cooking (24%); Shelter construction materials (19%).
Nearly all ward leaders said that their community members regularly purchase clothes and educational materials; 44% replied the same of household items (blankets, heaters, etc.); and another 44% said the same of hygiene items. Two-thirds of wards regularly purchase kitchen utensils; 29% regularly purchase furniture; and 5% regularly purchase cooking gas and fuel.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 18
Chart 2.3. Most Commonly Purchased Non Food Items, by Percentage of Wards
100.00% 90.00% 80.00% Betli 70.00% Bhuji 60.00% 50.00% Duragaun 40.00% 30.00% Gupteshwor 20.00% Kubukasthali 10.00%
0.00% Namadi Fuel
Other Pharpu
Water
Clothes
Medicine
Furniture
CGI sheet
Cookinggas
Cerealsseeds
Kitchen utensilsKitchen
Vegetableseeds
Educationinputs
Agriculturaltools
Hygieneproducts
Toolsto build shelter
Other householditems Other sheltermaterials
b. Availability of Commodities in Local Markets
More than one-third (35%) of ward leaders indicated that the demand for food has been reduced since the earthquakes. This is likely a result of reduced food consumption due to reduced incomes; of people leaving the wards for other areas after the earthquakes; and of increased difficulty for suppliers to deliver supplies over the rough roads.
Only one quarter of ward leaders answered that the nearest food markets have the capacity to fulfill all the needs of their customers. In addition: Only six ward leaders (9%) ascertained that the local markets have sufficient quantities of cereals and fresh fruits that are available at reasonable prices; Nine ward leaders (14%) answered that the local markets have the capacity to fulfill the needs for pulses, and the same proportion replied as such for fresh vegetable; The markets in just under half of the wards do not have the capacity to fulfill the needs for meat and fish; Two-thirds of wards cannot fulfill the milk product needs at reasonable prices; Sugar and honey is available at reasonable prices at two-thirds of the wards.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 19
Chart 2.4. Frequency of Visits to Markets
100.00% 90.00% 80.00% 70.00% At least once a week 60.00% 50.00% At least twice a week 40.00% Less than once a month 30.00% Monthly 20.00% Daily 10.00% 0.00% Once in two weeks
The price of food has increased in all wards as a result of the earthquakes. In addition, 8% of ward leaders indicated that the market they used to visit is out of stock now.
On average, the surveyed households across the 7 VDCs earns NPR 4,421 per month. They use 54% of their income on food and 19% on hygiene items.
All of the assessed VDCs indicated that they do not have access to fuel or propane gas. They also do not have any means of transportation to go to markets. Ward leaders could not state the exact normal price of fuel or gas during the survey, but 86% indicated that they are certain that the price is not normal. 58 ward leaders (92%) said that the price is still normal for hygiene items. The majority of ward leaders are sure that the price will increase for all items.
Due to the fuel and cooking gas crises, community members have started consuming less food, and their frequency to visit markets has also been reduced.
III. Shelter 1. Type of Housing
Ward leaders reported a total of 5,404 houses before the earthquakes, which matches the number of households registered for the 7 assessed VDCs in the District.
Out of the 5,404 reported houses in the assessed VDCs in Ramechhap: 4,465 (83%) are mud and stone houses; 767 (14%) are mud and stone houses with CGI roofing;
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 20
13 (0.24%) are concrete block or brick houses with CGI roofing; 40 (0.74%) are made of concrete blocks or bricks with concrete roofing; 119 (2%) are made of plant materials.
Table 3.1. Housing Types in Betali VDC, Ramechhap Mud Concrete and Concrete Concrete Mud stone stone block/bricks blocks/bricks VDC and walls with Others walls with CGI with concrete stone CGI with CGI roofing roofing roofing roofing Betali 81% 19% 0% 0% 0.5% 0% Bhujee 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Duragau 90% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% Guptesor 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Kubukasthali 99.86% 0.13% 0% 0% 0% 0% Namadi 66% 29% 0% 0% 1% 3% Farpu 57% 25% 0% 0% 0.4% 18%
2. Extent of Damage to Homes
The level of destruction from the earthquakes in the assessed VDCs was very high. Only 3% of houses did not suffer any damage, and only 4% suffered damage but were repairable. The rest (93% - 5,014 houses) were either completely collapsed or damaged beyond repair.
A full 93% of houses are not repairable due to the high level of destruction suffered during the earthquakes.
Table 3.2. Level of destruction per VDC Houses completely Houses damaged Houses Houses not destroyed/ but not damaged and damaged collapsed repairable repairable Betali 478 750 0 23 Bhujee 626 0 0 0 Duragau 712 47 6 0 Guptesor 0 394 0 3 Kubukasthali 176 533 7 0 Namadi 240 461 156 120 Farpu 408 189 75 0 Total 2,640 2,374 244 146 Percentage 49% 44% 4% 3%
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 21
House in Bhujee VDC damaged by the earthquakes.
The large majority of families are living in undignified or unsafe conditions, including in makeshift shelters with tarpaulins (35%), tents (31%), CGI sheets (26%), or with materials salvaged materials from their previous homes (1%).
Only about 3% of the population still lives in their former undamaged house and another 3% have built a new house since the earthquakes. Most households are living in makeshift temporary shelters vulnerable to the elements months after the first earthquake.
Such emergency housing conditions do not provide women and girls with sufficient privacy and security, increasing their risk for sexual abuse and violence.
Protection Issues!
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 22
Chart 3.3. Current Housing Conditions Own undamaged houses 3% 1% 0% 4% In makeshift shelter with tarpaulins
26% Tents 35%
Makeshift shelter with CGIs
Second owned houses
31% Own newly constructed house
Emergency shelter built with salvaged materials from damaged house in Bhujee VDC, Ramechhap District
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 23
3. Shelter Assistance Received
A total of 68% of ward leaders reported that their wards received shelter assistance after the first earthquake. This excludes four wards from Bhujee, six wards from Duragau, all wards from Gupteswhor, and one ward from Farpu VDCs. However, all wards in all assessed VDCs received shelter assistance after the second earthquake.
As detailed in Table 5, 92% of households received tarpaulins, 40% received CGI sheets, and 5% received shelter kits.
It is important to note that 62% of the ward leaders reported dissatisfaction about the quantity of tarpaulins received. Only 10% were dissatisfied with the quality of tarpaulins. When it came to CGI sheets received, 85% reported not being satisfied with the quantity and 39% reported not being satisfied with the quality.
A total of 92% of ward leaders replied that the shelter needs of their ward were not met by the assistance received at the time of the assessment. And 98% of ward leaders believe that the current state of the shelters is not warm enough for the winter season.
Zero households surveyed had received insulation materials or rope during the time of the assessment.
Table 3.4. Assistance Received per VDC4 Households that Households that Households that received tarpaulins received CGI sheets received shelter kits Betali 1,251 0 0 Bhujee 626 0 0 Duragau 765 765 250 Guptesor 394 0 0 Kubukasthali 716 0 0 Namadi 977 885 0 Farpu 233 531 0 Total 4,962 2,181 250 Percentage 92% 40% 5%
4 In addition, ACTED distributed the following shelter items to 603 households in Bhujee and 413 households in Guptesor in early 2016: CGI sheets, tarps, rope, tie wire, nails. ACTED also trained 10 masons in Bhujee and 10 in Guptesor on Build Back Safer techniques during the same period.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 24
Emergency shelter rebuilt with donated CGI sheets in Guptesor VDC, Ramechhap District
Emergency shelter built in Guptesor VDC with donated and salvaged materials, Ramechhap District
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 25
Nearly half of the ward leaders reported that they did receive shelter assistance from the Government of Nepal in Ramechhap.
Local NGOs and other organizations mentioned by ward leaders as having contributed to the relief assistance include: - Nepal Red Cross (Duragau) - Himal Power Limited (Namadi, Farpu) - Non-Resident Nepali (Duragau, Farpu) - Bumdel Samudaya (Bhujee) - Pashupati Foundation (Duragau) - Gurung Samaj (Namadi) - Hariyali Road Development (Namadi)
Some households in Guptesor also reported receiving assistance through a private donation.
International organizations mentioned during the assessment as providing assistance include: - UNHCR (Bhujee) - American Red Cross (Duragau) - World Vision (Duragau) 4. Shelter Needs of the Communities
Ward leaders were asked to rank the most urgent shelter items that the population would need to receive, 1 being the most urgent and 5 the least. The options were: CGI sheets, tarpaulins, galvanized steel wire, tool kits, timber, bamboo, rope/nails, insulation material, training on Build Back Safer techniques, and assistance with building the shelter.
CGI sheets are the most urgent material to be provided to people in Ramechhap. Indeed, CGI sheets were ranked as a top 5 need in all VDCs, and ranked as the number one need in 5 out of 7 VDCs. In average CGI sheet scored 2.04. Tarpaulins were ranked as second priority by ward leaders. The material was ranked as top 2 need in 3 VDCs, and made the list of a total of 4 VDCs. In average it has scored 2.24. Training on safer building techniques to learn how to build homes that are more resistant to earthquakes was ranked as third priority by ward leaders. The training was the top 2 need in 2 VDCs, and was included on the list for 4 VDCs. In average it has scored 2.24 and it ranked second by 32% ward leaders. Assistance with building shelter was ranked fourth as urgent need and in average it has scored 2.9. Insulation materials were ranked fifth by ward leaders as it scored 3.36. Galvanized steel wire, tool kits, bamboo, timber and rope/nails were ranked least in the ranking by ward leaders.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 26
It is important to note that even though insulation materials were ranked in only 5th place, most assessed ward leaders stated that houses in their wards are not warm enough for the winter season. 5. Women’s Perspective on Shelter Needs
Women leaders were asked to rank the needs in terms of shelter assistance, as per women and girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent. The options were: CGI sheets, tarpaulins, galvanized steel wire, tool kits, timber, bamboo, rope/nails, insulation material, training on Build Back Safer techniques, and assistance with building the shelter.
Women Leaders ranked CGI sheets as the most urgent material to be provided to people in Ramechhap. CGI made the top 5 list of needs in all VDCs, and 81% of women leaders ranked the item as their number one need and it scored 1.8 in average. This result correlates with ward leaders’ answers, thus further highlighting the urgency to distribute CGI sheets to Ramechhap’s households. Tools kits were ranked as the number two need. The items made the top 5 list for 54% of the women leaders and it scored 2.7 in average Insulation materials were ranked third by ward leaders as most urgent materials to be supported to people in Ramechhap, women leaders scored it 3.04 and 40% women leader ranked insulation materials Assistance with building shelter is given fourth rank by women leaders. It has scored 3.08 in average and 40% women leader ranked assistance with building shelter. Assistance with building shelter preferred by both ward leaders and women leaders Training for safer building techniques was ranked as the fifth priority need by women leaders. The training was included on the list of top 5 needs by 68% of women (covering 6 out of 7 VDCs). In average it has scored 3.09. The rest of the items were near equal in their rankings by women leaders.
The hierarchy in shelter needs reported by women differs from the one mentioned by the ward leaders. A consensus is reached on the necessity of urgently providing CGI sheets to Ramechhap’s population. Furthermore, assistance with building shelter, training for safer building techniques and tarps are high priority for both women leaders and ward leaders. IV. Non-Food Items
While access to durable shelter may prevail over other priorities, non-food item (NFI) needs also remain dire.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 27
1. NFI Assistance Received
Non-Food Items assistance coverage has been very low in Ramechhap. Only one quarter of ward leaders replied receiving NFI assistance for their ward from the government. A total of 22% replied that their ward received NFI support from local NGOs and other groups (Bundel Samudaya, local church, Himal Power Limited, Non-Resident Nepali, Kustrog Mahasangh etc.), while one third replied that their ward received support from INGOs. A final 21% reported receiving inputs from other organizations.
When asked if people received any assistance other than shelter, ward leaders responded that5: 54% received bedding equipment; 47% received kitchen sets; 14% received tool kits; 11% received hygiene kits; 5% received solar lamps; 1% received clothing.
All wards that received hygiene kits are satisfied with the quality of hygiene kits and not with other kits that they received. 2. NFI Needs of the Communities
Ward leaders were also given a list of non-food items (tool kits, mattress, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, solar lamp, clothing, blankets and other) and asked to rank them from 1 to 3, with one being the most urgent, to indicate what items their population most requires.
Solar lamps were ranked as the most urgent non-food item support for households in Ramechhap. Ward leaders scored this item 1.36 on average. 40% of surveyed ward leaders ranked solar lamps in their list of top 3 needs. Tool kits ranked as second in the priority list. On average it scored 1.7, with 37% of ward leaders ranking them. Clothing came in third priority. This scored 1.8 on average, with 42% of ward leaders requesting clothes. Other inputs (mattress, kitchen set, hygiene kit, and blanket, being the options) are put in least priority as most urgent NFI needs in Ramechhap by ward leaders.
5 In addition, ACTED distributed the following NFIs to 603 households in Bhujee and 413 households in Guptesor in early 2016: blankets, solar lamps, mattresses, clothing (winter jackets, socks, gloves), and tools (spades, sledge hammers, shovels, pick axes.)
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 28
3. Women’s Perspective on NFI Needs
Women leaders were also asked to rank the needs in terms of NFI assistance, as per women’s and girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent.
The top need among women leaders in Ramechhap are kitchen kits. These made the list of top 5 needs for 89% of women leaders, and received an average score of 3.12. Blankets are in second priority for women leaders. These were ranked by 78% of women, with an average score of 2.89. In third priority are tool kits. Women leaders scored the kits 2.42 on average, with 52% women leaders ranking tool kits. In fourth priority is a water storage unit. This NFI made the list for 51% of women leaders, and scoring an average of 3.1 points. Finally, clothing made the list of top 5 items. This scored 2.5 on average, with 47% of women leaders ranking clothing. The rest of items were ranked by fewer than half the women leaders. These included menstrual pads, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and mattresses.
The NFI priority needs differ significantly between women leaders and ward leaders. Both groups rank tool kits (in 2nd priority for ward leaders, and 3rd priority for women leaders) and both rank clothing (in 3rd priority for ward leaders and 5th priority for women leaders). However, women rank kitchen sets as their number one need, with other important items being blankets and water storage units. As for ward leaders, their number one need is solar lamps. V. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
1. Main Sources of Drinking Water
Gravity water supply schemes (piped) are the most common sources of drinking water, with a total of 176 schemes reported to cover water needs of 5,134 households (95% of all households in assessed VDCs). On average, one gravity water supply scheme provides water to 50 households. Details of the gravity water supply points per VDC are shown in Table 5.1. The rest of the households, at 5%, use spring / streams as a water source. There were no cases of hand pumps or tube wells in the assessed VDCs.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 29
Table 5.1. Number of Households per Gravity Water Supply VDCs Number of Gravity Number of Number of Water Supply Points Households Households per Gravity Water Supply Point Betali 28 984 35 Bhujee 18 626 35 Duragau 22 765 35 Guptesor 13 397 31 Kubukasthali 40 716 18 Namadi 23 977 42 Farpu 32 672 21 Total 176 5,134 29
2. Damage to Water Sources6
A total of 95 gravity water supply schemes have been damaged but remain functional, representing 54% of the total gravity schemes available. Another 78 (44%) were completely destroyed by the earthquakes and are no longer functional.
3,722 households have thus been left with no or limited access to drinking water after the earthquakes – 70% of the assessed population (see Table 5.2.).
465 households in Betali (37%) 626 households in Bhujee (100%) 762 households in Duragau (100%) 365 households in Guptesor (92%) 462 households in Kubukasthali (65%) 377 households in Namadi (39%) 665 households in Farpu (98%)
6 See Annexes 2 and 3 for lists of damaged, and functioning/non-functioning gravity water supply points.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 30
Chart 5.2. Percent of Wards in VDC that Lack Safe Drinking Water
Pharpu 99%
Namadi 36%
Kubukasthali 65%
Gupteshwor 92%
Duragaun 100%
Bhuji 100%
Betali 37%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Nearly all of the gravity water supply schemes are built using plastic pipes (95%). The rest are built with galvanized iron pipes. One-third of wards (29%) have seen their pipes damaged or destroyed due to landslides; another third had their water source shift to a different location; and the final third saw their water tanks damaged. Landslides due to monsoon rains also damaged the water sources.
Landslides have become more frequent after the earthquakes, which had made the mountain faces more prone to crumbling. The destruction caused by the earthquakes, especially to the water tanks, is making it more difficult, or even impossible, to store large amounts of safe drinking water for long. 3. Women’s Perspective on Damage to Water Sources
Women and girls are disproportionately carrying the burden of responsibility for collecting water for daily needs. When asked about the person in charge of water collection for domestic purposes in their wards, 63% of women leaders replied that collecting water was the adult women’s responsibility, 16% replied female children’s, and only 6% said that it is male children’s.
The majority of the women respondents (65%) reported that their usual water source had been damaged by the earthquakes, including 100% in Guptesor, Kubukusthali, and Farpu VDCs. For those VDCs where water source has been damaged or destroyed, residents had to walk an average of 35 minutes (with a maximum of 68 minutes) to reach water sources.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 31
Impact on women and girls has been tremendous in Ramechhap; all women leader (98%), except one, report that daily life and activities have been affected by the lack of safe access to water. One third do not have access to a water source at all and the same percentage said that the earthquakes have increased the distance to reach the main Protection Issues! water source. Half of women leaders reported that queuing time has been increased at the water source to collect water; 14% saw increased tension in the community at the water source; and more than half saw their domestic workload increase.
One-third of women leaders replied that the earthquakes have negatively impacted girls’ education because girls now take a longer time to fetch water and have to go during morning classes. 4. Water Source Needs of the Communities
Ward leaders were asked to rank what materials they needed the most in order to improve their water sources. They were given a list of items, which they had to rank from 1 to 3 – with 1 being the most urgent – to make the water schemes functional again.
Galvanized iron pipes were ranked as the most urgent materials to improve the water situation in Ramechhap district. These were ranked in the top 3 by 90% of ward leaders, and scored 1.84 on average. HDP (high-density polyethylene) pipes were the second most urgent materials needed to rehabilitate water points. They scored an average 1.56 and were ranked as top 3 need by 79% of ward leaders. Cement and / or concrete for the tanks is the third most urgent material to rehabilitate water points. This material scored an average of 2.23 and was ranked in all VDCs, and in 60% of wards. The final potential need, protection of water at the source, ranked low by ward leaders. 5. Latrines and Hygiene Practices
Prior to the earthquakes, 70% of households had septic tank latrines in all VDCs, one-fourth had flush/pour latrines, and 4% had no latrines. In one ward, people used to share community latrines. In 98% of wards, people had used household latrines. Before the earthquake, only 6% of people without household latrines in surveyed wards resorted to open defecation.
Following the earthquakes, access to latrines has been greatly reduced. The percentage of households possessing septic tank latrines fell from 70% to 56%. The percentage of households using temporary pit latrines became 2% when it was 0% before the earthquakes. Some flush latrines have been destroyed since only 8% of households are still using them.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 32
Open defecation is reported as a solution by 38% of ward leaders for those who do not have access to latrines. This is up from 6% before the earthquakes.
One-fifth (22%) of community members are sharing latrines between several households, up from 2% before the earthquakes.
Washing hands after defecation and before eating and cooking is not practiced by community members, according to 67% of ward leaders from Betali VDC. However, all ward leaders in Bhujee, Duragau, Guptesor, Kubukasthali, Namadi and Farpu report that hand washing is common practice. 6. Women’s Perspective on Latrines and Hygiene Practices
Nearly all (98%) women leaders reported that women and girls primarily used private latrines prior to the earthquakes, with 2% sharing latrines between households in Farpu VDC. Septic tank latrines were widely used in Guptesor VDC.
Open defecation was also practiced, according to 21% of women leaders. Interestingly, ward leaders replied that only 6% of households practiced open defecation. The significant difference in the data is likely due to the fact that most ward leaders are male and are not aware of the extra privacy and cleanliness that women and girls seek at times. Women and girls are less likely to use latrines that are very dirty, and are more likely to seek out private spaces out in the open.
When women and girls are forced to venture into the unprotected woods – during day and nighttime – for personal needs, they are at high risk of gender-based violence. Protection Issues!
Private latrines do not seem to have been largely affected, as 81% of women leader reported that their wards’ girls and women still use private latrines after the earthquakes. Similarly, the 16% of people who are using shared latrines has not changed. The practice of open defecation has slightly increased, going up to 25% in wards, according to women leaders. VI. Food Security 1. Food Assistance Received
Households in the 7 assessed VDCs of Ramechhap have received some food items as relief. The details are as follows: 87% (4,717 households across the 7 VDCs) received rice; 36% (1,947 households) received oils and fats; 30% (1,629 households) received lentils; 23% (1,251 households) received vegetables;
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 33
Only 15% of all households received sugar and salt.
Details on food relief received per VDC can be found in Table 6.1.
Chart 6.1. Food Relief Received, per VDC
100% 90% Rice 80% Lentils 70% Vegetables 60% Meat/Fish 50% 40% Oil/Fats 30% Tea/Spices 20% Sugar and Salt 10% Fruits 0% Eggs Food for Young children
Over half (52%) of the wards that received food assistance reported that the food basket distributed would only last one to two weeks. In fact, 40% estimate that it would last less than one week.
Only 51% of the ward leaders reported that the food relief effort had been made by the government itself. While this includes all wards in Betali and Gutpteshwor and 77% of the wards in Farpu, none of the wards in Bhujee, Duragau, Kubukasthali received food aid from the Nepalese authorities after the earthquakes.
A local church, Bundel Samudaya, Himal Power Limited, Non-Resident Nepali, Khustarog Hospital, Kustarog Mahasang is also reported as having distributed food items in Bhujee, Duragau, and Farpu VDCs.
2. Food Needs of the Communities
Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs of their community in terms of food relief. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 34
Rice is by far the most urgent food need. Rice scored an average of 1.09, and was ranked in all VDCs by all ward leaders. Oils and fats are in second priority. Oils/fats scored an average of 2.5, and were ranked by 81% of the ward leaders. In third priority are lentils (dhal). These ranked an average of 3.1, and made the list of top 5 items in all VDCs by 76% of the ward leaders. In fourth priority are meat and fish. These scored an average of 2.9 and were ranked by only 31% of all ward leaders. Sugar and salt scored an average of 3.5, and were ranked in all VDCs by 81% of the ward leaders. Sugar and salt are fifth priority. The other food items scored significantly less. These include vegetables, tea/spices, eggs, fruit, and food for young children. 3. Women’s Perspective on Food Needs
Women leaders were also asked to rank the needs in terms of food relief. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent.
Rice came out in first priority. It scored an average of 1.17, and was ranked in all VDCs by 100% of the women leaders. Oils/fats scored an average of 2.7, and were ranked by an average of 94% of the women leaders. Oils and fats are second priority for women. Lentils/dhal scored an average of 2.92, and were ranked by 75% of the women leaders. Lentils are thus the third priority for women. Sugar and salt scored an average of 3.5, and was ranked in all VDCs by 92% of the women leaders. Sugar and Salt are prioritized fourth by women. Meat and fish scored an average of 3.7, and were ranked by only 16% of the women leaders. Meat and fish are then fifth priority for women. The other items (vegetables, tea/spices, eggs, and fruits) scored less.
There is remarkable consensus between the women leaders and the ward leaders about the communities’ top food needs, with the top three items (rice, oils and fats, and lentils) holding the top 3 positions, and sugar and salt, and meat and fish, vying for fourth and fifth places.
Rice is undeniably the number one food need in all communities. Although most communities received rice during the emergency, these supplies only lasted a few weeks for most households.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 35
VII. Livelihoods 1. Main Livelihoods
The livelihoods of people in the assessed VDCs were noticeably impacted by the earthquakes, with assets, incomes and food stocks taking a big hit. The main livelihood for households in Ramechhap revolves around subsistence agriculture, with most households being engaged in more than one related activity. The following is a breakdown of livelihoods after the earthquakes in the assessed VDCs, according to ward leaders. There is overlapping and double-counting, as households are usually engaged in multiple activities.
83% of households rely on crop cultivation (4,500 households). 8% rear livestock (415 households). 0.35% report an agro-business such as restaurant or vegetable shop (19 households). 2.25% report that households have a non-agro business such as a small clothing shop (122 households). 6% are employed by the Government of Nepal (341 households). 0.12% work in services and tourism, including touristic guides and sherpas (605 households) (see Figure 5).
Chart 7.1. Main Livelihoods in Ramechhap
83% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 8% 20% 2.25% 6% 10% 0.35% 0.12% 0%
According to ward leaders, one-third (31%) of households lost their agricultural land during the earthquakes; 20% have lost their harvest for this season due to the earthquakes; and 21% have lost their agricultural inputs (e.g. tools, seeds, storage facilities) for this season due to the earthquakes.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 36
Chart 7.2. Agricultural Losses in Ramechhap
Households did not experience agricultural loss 21% 28% Households lost their agricultural land
Households who have lost their harvest for this season 20%
Households who have lost 31% their agro inputs (e.g. Tools, seeds, storage facilities) for this season
For the 415 households who primarily rely on livestock rearing for their income, only 4% lost livestock during the earthquakes, and 12% lost access to grazing land. 2. Crop agriculture
Nearly all wards cultivate rice (89%), potatoes (90%), maize (100%), millet (100%), vegetables (86%), and wheat (89%) for personal household consumption in Ramechhap. The notable exception is Duragau and Farpu VDCs, where wheat is not popular.
Fewer than half of ward leaders answered that barley is cultivated only for household consumption and only one quarter (24%) cultivated grain amaranth. Only 6% of households cultivate legumes. Oil crops (such as mustard) are cultivated by 37% of wards, mostly in Kubukasthali, Namadi, Farpu and Betali VDCs. The other surveyed wards do not cultivate oil crops. Only 6% of households cultivate mustard for household consumption alone.
Tea, cotton, jute, sugar cane, and tobacco were not cultivated in the surveyed VDCs.
Maize, millet, potatoes, vegetables, rice, barley and wheat are the most cultivated crops in Ramechhap. All these crops are mostly used for personal household consumption. 3. Planting and Harvesting Months
See tables below.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 37
Table 7.2. Planting Calendar in Ramechhap
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Rice X X Maize X X X Millet / X X kodo Potatoes X X X X X X X X X Vegetables (depending X X X X on type and VDC) Spices X X Barley X X X X Wheat X X X X X Grain X X Amaranth Legums (Lentils, X X X pea) Oil Crops X X X X
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 38
Table 7.3. Harvesting Calendar in Ramechhap
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Rice X X Maize X X X Millet / X X kodo Potatoes X X X X X X Vegetables X X X Spices x x Barley X X X X Wheat X X X X X Grain X X X X Amaranth Legums( Lentil, X X X peas) Oil crops X X X X
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 39
4. Livestock rearing
All ward leaders reported that chickens are reared in their ward. More than half of the wards rear chickens solely for household consumption and the rest rear them for both household consumption and income generation. All wards rear goats. According to ward leaders, 57% rear goats for household consumption, 1% for income generation only, and 42% for both purposes. All ward leaders reported that cows and buffalo are reared in their ward. All households that rear cows and buffalo use them for household consumption. Around 48% of households also generate income from the cows and buffalo. Most households (87%) do not rear sheep in Ramechhap. Only 8% responded that they rear sheep only for household consumption and 5% responded that sheep were reared as income source only. Pigs are reared for household consumption by 44% of households, with 41% rearing pigs for both consumption and income. Bee keeping is not common.
Unlike agriculture, livestock rearing is a common source of income for households in Ramechhap. Most households that engage in agriculture farming also rear livestock; to limit the risk of double counting, the data above includes the households whose main source of income is livestock rearing. 5. Women’s Perspective on Livelihoods
On average 72% of women have crop agriculture as their main livelihood. The detailed breakdown by VDC is as follows: 75% in Betali 47% in Bhujee 71% in Duragau 58% in Guptesor 85% in Kubukasthali 83% in Namadi 83% in Farpu
Another 9% of women leaders replied that livestock rearing is the main livelihood in their VDC. This was 20% of the women leaders in Bhujee, 14% in Guptesor, 13% in Betali and Farpu, 11% in Kubukasthali, 3% in Namadi, and none in Duragau.
Overall, the main income for 7% of women is agro business (vegetable selling, etc.). Women engage in agro-business in all VDCs except Duragau. Another 3% of women have their main
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 40
livelihood as non-agro business (small shops, etc.), and 3% of women have their main livelihood as government job. 6. Division of Labour
ACTED questioned ward leaders and women leaders about how agricultural labour gets divided between the sexes in their wards. Nearly all ward leaders (97%) said that both adult women and men were in charge of conducting pre-harvest activities (including planting, cultivation, irrigation, and daily maintenance). A total of 11% of wards from Duragau and 11% from Farpu VDCs stated that it was solely the responsibility of adult males, while all other wards from other VDCs shared that both genders were equally in charge of conducting pre- harvest activities. When it came to decision making in agricultural activities, 95% of ward leaders made decisions in consultation with both men and women. In 2% of wards, women have the primary power for making decisions regarding pre-harvest activities.
Likewise, nearly all ward leaders (95%) stated that both adult women and men are in charge of harvesting in all seven VDCs. However, Farpu VDC stands as exception because three ward leaders replied that adult men are in charge of harvesting crops. Decisions are made in coordination with men and women together, as reported by 95% of ward leaders.
Almost three-quarters of ward leaders replied that both men and women are in charge of post-production activities (processing, sales, etc.). However, more than one quarter of ward leaders responded that men are in charge of conducting post production activities.
The majority of community members make decisions in coordination with both women and men for all activities regarding agricultural production.
A large majority (81%) of ward leaders said that both adult men and adult women were in charge of livestock care, and 70% replied that both genders were in charge of selling livestock products. In Betali, Namadi and Dugaraun, women do not actively participate in selling livestock products. 7. Women’s Perspective on Division of Labour
Men are the main providers in surveyed households, according to 92% of women leaders. However, women contribute on average one quarter of household income.
98% of women leaders stated that women were in charge and involved in decision making processes in conducting pre-harvest activities. All women leaders answered that women are actively involved in decision making for harvesting activities, while 94% answered that women were also involved in the physical harvesting activities.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 41
61% of women responded that women are in charge of conducting post-production activities, while 70% of women leaders replied that women have the power to influence decision making for post-production activities.
Only one women leader (from Farpu) replied that women do not have active participation in pre-harvest activities; four women leaders (two from Duragau and two from Farpu) said that women do not have active participation in harvesting; and 18 women leaders (all from Kubukasthali and Namadi) replied that women do not have active participation in post- production activities nor in decision making process.
In general, 97% of women leaders answered that women have active participation in livestock care and 95% of women have influence in decision making. However, fewer than half (46%) of women leaders replied that women actively participate in selling livestock products. For the rest, women do not have any influence on decision making for selling livestock products in all wards of Kubukasthali and Namadi; 89% of wards in Duragau; and 78% of wards in Farpu VDCs.
All women reported to be ready to restart the livelihoods that were interrupted because of the earthquakes, including agricultural activities and livestock rearing.
In Ramechhap, women are generally well involved in the physical activities related to agricultural production (pre-harvest, harvesting, and post-production).
However, they have much less control over the financial activities. The fact that over half of the women do not control the sales of livestock products suggests that women are in a state of financial dependence and have less access to cash than their male partners. This places women – and the children in their care – in a higher state Protection Issues! of economic vulnerability.
8. Livelihood Assistance Received
Livelihood assistance, consisting of seeds, has only reached 40% (2,141 households) of the assessed population in Ramechhap. This was provided by the Nepal government, the NGO Budel Samudaya, and local churches. Only residents of Betali and Guptesor, and some wards in Bhujee, have received good coverage in terms of livelihood assistance. All ward leaders affirmed that households in their wards were ready to restart their livestock rearing and / or agricultural activities.
Besides seeds, no other livelihood-related assistance was provided in the seven assessed VDCs in Ramechhap.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 42
9. Livelihood Needs of the Communities
Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs in their communities in terms of livelihood assistance. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent.
Seeds are the most sought after livelihood assistance in Ramechhap. Seeds scored an average of 2.12, and were ranked in all VDCs by 89% of the ward leaders. Nearly all (92%) of ward leaders ranked tools in their list of top 5 needs. This places tools in second priority for livelihood needs. Animal feed came in third place. It scored an average of 3.96, and was ranked by 86% of ward leaders. Shelter for livestock is fourth in the ranking. This need scored an average of 2.95, and was ranked by 76% of ward leaders. Finally, vocational training is fifth priority. This activity scored an average 2.93 and was ranked in all VDCs by 68% of the ward leaders. Storage units for agricultural products were ranked quite highly, with an average score of 2.8. However, they made the list of top 5 items in only 27% of the wards. Livestock animals made the list in 62% of wards and scored an average of 2.97.
Seeds, tools, animal feed, shelter for livestock, and vocational training are the top five priorities for resuming livelihood activities based on crop agriculture or livestock rearing in Ramechhap. 10. Women’s Perspective on Livelihoods Needs
Women leaders were asked to rank the needs in terms of livelihood relief, as per women’s and girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent.
As with ward leaders, seeds are the top priority agricultural input for women leaders in Ramechhap. They scored an average of 1.9, and were ranked in all VDCs by 92% of the women leaders. Animal feed came in second priority. It was ranked by 86% and had an average score of 3.9. Shelter for livestock was in third priority, according to women leaders. This scored an average of 3.4, and was ranked by 79% of the women leaders. Vocational training is in fourth priority. It scored an average 2.5 and was ranked in all VDCs by 75% of the women leaders. Tools came in fifth priority. They ranked an average of 3.1 and made the list for 73% of women leaders. Livestock animals also scored quite highly, with an average score of 3, and ranking by 71% of the women leaders.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 43
Storage units were ranked by 41% of women leaders and had an average score of 2.8.
Seeds are undeniably the number one livelihood need in Ramechhap, as they were ranked most important by both women leaders and ward leaders. There is also consensus that the other top needs are tools, animal feed, shelter for animals, and vocational training.
VIII. Education
1. Access to Education
In the assessed VDCs in Ramechhap, 59 schools were open before the earthquakes. Only four are still standing after both earthquakes. 91% of schools in the assessed VDCs were destroyed through the earthquakes. This includes all schools in Bhujee, Duragau, Guptesor, Kubukasthali and Namadi.
Table 8.1. Number of Schools per VDC before the Earthquakes
Primary schools Secondary schools Total Betali 2 6 8 Bhujee 2 1 3 Duragau 4 2 6 Guptesor 17 5 22 Kubukasthali 4 3 7 Namadi 5 1 6 Farpu 7 0 7 Total 41 18 59
Chart 8.2. Percentage of Schools Destroyed in Ramechhap, by VDC 105% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
95%
90% 88% 86% 85%
80%
75%
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 44
Despite the level of destruction, almost all school teachers are still running classes for children and teenagers, as reported by ward leaders. The majority are operating in makeshift shelters (34%), in tents (57%), in the undamaged building (6%) and other solutions (2%).
Chart 8.3. Location of Educational Instruction in Ramechhap
2%
6% In makeshift shelter 34% In tents
In the undamaged building Other 58%
Nearly all (94%) ward leaders mentioned that latrines in the schools have been damaged and would therefore require rehabilitation in addition to re-construction of infrastructure.
As per ward leaders’ estimations, there are approximately 11,332 students in Ramechhap, which would represent 36% of the total population. This gives an indication about the large proportion of minors in the district. On average, they are 192 students following classes in the same school. The details are as follows:
3,731 students in Guptesor. 1,750 students in Duragau. 1,343 students in Namadi. 1,284 students in Bhujee. 1,230 students in Kubukasthali. 1,115 students in Farpu. 879 students in Betali. 2. Women’s Perspective on Access to Education
Nearly all (95%) of women leaders report that the closest school has been affected by the earthquakes and that this has very negatively impacted children’s education in Ramechhap. Indeed, 16% of the respondents have no physical access to an educational center anymore.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 45
On average for VDCs, the nearest government school is 2.3 kilometers away from the village. The farthest distance is in Farpu, where the average distance is more than 4 kilometres.
Another 13% of women leaders reported that households in their wards could not send all children to school because they can no longer afford it. A total of 18% of women leaders stated that households did not have the money for school fees, while 30% have given priority to Protection Issues! boys for school attendance. Only 7% of women leaders replied that girls’ education is getting priority. The final 15% stated that there has been no impact on education due to the earthquakes.
It is clear that the earthquake has had a noticeable impact on the ability of girls to attend school. 3. Educational Needs
Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs of the school facilities. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 3 – with 1 being the most urgent.
The reconstruction of the building is considered as a first priority by ward leaders. It scored an average 1.7, and was ranked by 96% of the ward leaders. School supplies scored an average of 1.8, and were ranked by 100% of the ward leaders. School supplies are thus ranked as second priority. Rehabilitation of latrines and water points is the third priority. It scored an average of 2.3, and was ranked by 89% of the ward leaders. Tents and tarpaulins scored an average of 2.4 and were ranked by only 14% of ward leaders.
IX. Health 1. Access to Health Facilities
The Detailed Needs Assessment also sought to understand what kind of access to health facilities communities have. On average, government health facilities are 3 kilometres away from households. The farthest facilities are in Namadi VDC, where 4.3 kilometres is the average.
All ward leaders replied that their closest governmental health facility was still open after the earthquakes. However, one-tenth reported that it became inaccessible after the earthquakes, including nearly all wards in Kubukasthali. Only two-thirds (63%) of health centres are operating in the original building; 33% are operating in tents; and 3% reported that the health
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 46
center had been shifted to makeshift shelters. Half of the latrines in health facilities in all VDCs were reported as damaged, including all in Guptesor and Farpu VDCs.
Chart 9.1. Location of Health Centres
33% In tents
In the makeshift Shelter
In the undamaged 63% building
3%
In terms of caseload, the number of patient admissions per day before earthquakes was 22 on average per health facility. After the earthquakes, the caseload has increased to 30 people. Overall, 1,912 individuals visit each health centre per day.
There are few options outside of government health centres. Private health facilities – generally run by private health practitioners who open a clinic and charge for their services – are very far from the villages (almost 16 kilometres on average). Besides that, two-thirds (64%) are reported inaccessible. Medical assistance provided by NGOs is nonexistent, with all ward leaders reporting that there is no health assistance from NGOs across the seven VDCs. 2. Women’s Perspective on Access to Health Facilities
According to women leaders, the closest health facility is 3 kilometers from their home. The average distance is more than 4.2 kilometers in Duragau and it goes up to 7 to 9 kilometers in Farpu and Dugaruan VDCs.
Most of the women leaders stated that their regular government health facility has been affected by the earthquakes.
Among the ones whose health facility has been damaged, other problems have been reported for women and children in accessing proper health care, including lack of financial means to pay for health center and adequate medicines (20%), no physical access (33%) and no money
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 47
to pay for transportation to the health center (35%). Only 12% reported that the damages had not affected women and children in accessing health facilities. 3. Healthcare Needs
When asked about the challenges faced by government health facilities and what would be the most urgent materials to allow them to be fully functional, ward leaders ranked priorities from 1 (the most urgent) to 5 (the least urgent).
The most needed support to health centres in Ramechhap is medicine. Medicines scored an average of 1.7 and are reported as a priority in all VDCs by 95% of ward leaders. The number two need for health centres to resume normal functionality are trained medical staff. Staff scored an average of 1.5 and were ranked by 76% of ward leaders. Accessibility through rubble clearing activities was in third priority. This scored 2.4 and was reported by 54% of ward leaders. Reconstruction of the building is in fourth priority. This support received an average score of 2.2 and was reported by 22% of ward leaders. In fifth priority are latrines and drinking water accessibility. These scored 2.7 and were ranked by 43% of ward leaders. Finally, tents and tarps scored lowest. These scored an average of 2.3 but were ranked by only 10% of ward leaders. X. Coping Strategies 1. Most Common Coping Strategies
Women and ward leaders were asked about how households plan to cope with losses due to the earthquakes. They were given a list of options and asked to select all scenarios that apply to them. The most common strategy was to migrate to other areas of the country in search of work. Indeed, according to 38% of ward leaders, men have left or plan to leave the households to find work elsewhere. Another 25% of ward leaders said the same of women. According to 21% of ward leaders, the entire household has considered leaving the ward to seek employment elsewhere. Only 16% of ward leaders replied that the earthquakes have not affected whether people remain in their hometowns. In the VDCs of Duragau, Guptesor and Namadi, all ward leaders replied that the head of the household would leave or has left the ward – and his/her family – to find work elsewhere. In 40% of wards, families are considering labor migration for boys under 18 as well, and 6% are considering migration for girls.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 48
Children migrating alone places them at high risk of exploitation, bonded labour, and trafficking – all regular occurrences in Nepal. Their possibilities of attending school also become limited if they are working during the day, and especially if they are outside their Protection Issues! hometowns.
When it came to having access to cash, over half of the ward leaders replied that people would take loans from formal institutions, while the rest would take loans from informal institutions and friends and family.
Three quarters of ward leaders replied that households were considering selling their productive assets (seeds, tools, livestock, land etc.) if they haven’t already done so. This includes all ward leaders in Bhujee, Guptesor and Namadi VDCs. Another 41% would consider selling their non-productive assets.
A large majority, 79% of households, plan to reduce their food expenses to compensate for the decrease in incomes. This includes all wards from Betali, Duragau, Guptesor, and Namadi.
The households in half of the wards would also reduce their health expenses, while 41% would reduce how much they spend on education for their children.
Chart 10.1. Household Coping Strategies (Multiple Categories per Household)
Reduction of education expenses 41% Reeducation of health expenses 51% Reduction of food expenses 79% Loan from family and friends 48% Loan from informal institution 49% Loan from formal institution 56% Sale of remaining non-productive assets 41% Sale of remaining productive assets 76% Labor migration of the male child member 40% Labor migration of female child member 6% Labor migration of male adult member 38% Labor migration of a female adult member 25% Labor migration of whole the household 21% Labor migration of head of household 67% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 49
2. Women’s Perspective on Coping Strategies
Women leaders were asked how the households in their wards would manage with the loss of income and other setbacks resulting from the earthquakes. Nearly half (48%) of women leaders reported that the head of the household will have to move to find work. This would be the male head of household in 63% of cases, and female head of household in 52% of cases. Children (3% of boys and 5% of girls) could also be sent to another district to work. One-fifth (19%) are considering the option of moving the whole household to another district.
When it came to immediate access to cash, over half of the women plan to borrow money from relatives or friends (51%), and 29% plan to use their existing savings. Only 43% were planning to take a loan from a formal institution; the option of borrowing money from an informal institution, i.e. a money lender, is considered by 44% of households according to women leaders’ estimations.
A large majority of women – 70% – would reduce their food expenses. However, the trends are not the same in all VDCs: 100% in Betali 100% in Bhujee 100% in Gutpeshwor 66% in Kubukasthali 78% in Namadi 44% in Farpu
One quarter (25%) reported that they would reduce health expenses, including 78% from Kubukasthali, 33% from Namadi and 67% from Farpu.
Three quarters of respondents said that women are planning to sell some productive assets to cope with the financial and asset losses resulting from the earthquakes. However, non- productive assets would generally not be sold as per 84% women leaders.
3. Negative Coping Strategies
A total of 78% of women leaders replied that women have adopted negative coping strategies.
Women and girls are adversely affected by the earthquakes: girls’ education is interrupted (in 20% of wards); girls under 18 are sent under the care of another household (2%); and girls move for job opportunities elsewhere (16% in Dugaruan, Farpu and Guptesor). This trend places serious obstacles to girls’ future as they are separated Protection Issues! from educational facilities and other basic human rights. Separating girls from their families also places them at high risk of exploitation and abuse.
Reducing food intake and separation from health care can also adversely affect women and girls’ health, as 22% of women leaders said that women and girls have been consuming less food and one-tenth said that they are isolated from basic health facilities.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 50
Chart 10.2. Negative Coping Strategies
12 women leaders (19% of total) replied that girls under 18 have adopted most negative coping strategies including:
91% 100% 90% 80% 67% 67% 70% 58% 58% 60% 50% 33% 40% 25% 25% 30% 17% 20% 10% 0%
Alarmingly, to cope with the losses of the earthquakes, girls under 18 years of age are taking unpaid domestic work, porter work, rearing livestock, and taking other jobs – all of which take time away from their schooling, and take them away from the protection of their families. Such jobs may also require the girls to travel long distances Protection Issues! or work long hours, preventing them from continuing their education altogether. The activities that girls under 18 are conducting to survive show the dark future of young girls. Girls are participating in activities where they may become victims to gender- based violence and sexual exploitation. Their basic rights have been snatched due to the dire consequences of the devastating earthquakes.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 51
Conclusions
The two major earthquakes that struck Nepal in 2015 have had a profoundly devastating effect on the people of Ramechhap District. Not only did the quakes destroy 93% of houses to the point where they cannot be repaired, but they also shut down markets, schools, and health facilities. Water and sanitation infrastructure has been devastated. People have suffered profound agricultural losses and have decreased food stocks. As most wards in Ramechhap are remote and off the main roads, delivery of items through market powers or humanitarian agencies remains very difficult.
Shelter
Most households in the assessed VDCs of Ramechhap (92%) have received tarpaulins, with 40% receiving CGI sheets. Nevertheless, CGI sheets are by far the number one shelter need in the assessed areas. Alongside that, households urgently request assistance with building shelters, training for safer building techniques, and distribution of additional tarps. Nearly all (98%) of ward leaders identified that the current shelters in their wards are not warm enough for the winter season. Therefore, ACTED recommends continued support with durable emergency shelter items that can last households through the medium-term, including CGI sheets, tool kits, and tarps.
Moving into the reconstruction phase, it will be very important to have a pool of local builders who are knowledgeable in building homes that are more resistant to earthquakes. This was a major need identified by the communities as well. As the winter season comes to an end, it is the perfect opportunity to train masons on Build Back Safer techniques, as developed by the Government of Nepal.
Non Food Items
There has been very little NFI assistance in Ramechhap, with only one quarter of ward leaders replying that their wards received some inputs. Half of the households in the assessed VDCs received bedding and kitchen sets, and a much smaller proportion received tool kits, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and clothing.
Ward leaders and women leaders continue to rank tool kits, clothing, kitchen sets, and solar lamps highly. ACTED recommends to continue supporting households with critical items that help them re-establish their homes. Keeping in mind that there is little electricity in much of Nepal, solar lamps are an especially critical item.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Having destroyed a large proportion of the water and sanitation infrastructure in Ramechhap, the earthquakes have had a noticeable impact on people’s access to safe drinking water and
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 52
to clean latrines. This in turn affects the extent to which people are able to maintain good hygiene practices. Furthermore, the destruction of water points has placed a heavier burden on women and girls – who collect most of the water – as they require more hours to reach functioning water points. This limits how much they spend on other tasks, such as education for the girls.
Communities ranked galvanized iron pipes as the most urgent need to improve the water situation. These pipes would replace the mostly plastic one that were destroyed through the earthquakes. Open defecation has also risen significantly after the earthquakes due to the destruction of latrines. For these reasons, ACTED recommends immediate construction and rehabilitation of latrines, reinforcement of water points, and promotion of good hygiene practices. All WASH activities should be conducted with a view towards the needs of women and girls especially.
Food Security
Most assessed households (87%) received rice as food relief in the aftermath of the earthquake, with a smaller proportion receiving oils/fats, lentils, vegetables, and sugar/salt. However, half these households stated that the food assistance received so far would only last one to two weeks.
Rice remains the number one food needs for households in Ramechhap. Other urgent items requested are those that cannot be cultivated or purchased easily in the remote communities: oils/fats, lentils, sugar/salt, and meat/fish. If considering food relief, ACTED recommends distribution of rice and other hard-to-access commodities.
Livelihood
The main livelihood around Ramechhap is agriculture, with 83% of households relying directly on crop cultivation. With the earthquakes having damaged agricultural land, harvests, and materials (such as storage facilities), the personal production of households cannot replenish food stocks. This leads to food shortages and rice being the number one need, as indicated previously. Humanitarian assistance has only provided seeds in the assessed VDCs of Ramechhap, and these to only 40% of the households.
Ward leaders and women leaders continued to identify seeds as the number one input that would help them to restart their livelihoods. Other top needs were tools, animal feed, shelter for animals, and vocational training. As households move into the reconstruction phase and settle into their land, either historic or new, ACTED recommends urgently supporting livelihood recovery through the provision of agricultural inputs and training.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 53
Education
As with houses, most schools were destroyed beyond repair in Ramechhap. For this reason, the reconstruction of school buildings is the number need, according to ward leaders. Despite the challenges, teachers have continued running classes off-site, in emergency shelters, and on the grounds of the damaged school buildings. ACTED recommends supporting teachers and students with building reconstruction, but also replacing key educational materials lost. As many people – teachers included – left their VDCs after the earthquakes, humanitarian agencies could work with government partners to develop incentives to encourage skilled workers such as teachers to return.
Health
As with education, much of the necessary infrastructure has been destroyed. This includes building itself, but also the contents, such as medecines. The latter are identified as the biggest need in Ramechhap to improve health facilities, according to ward leaders. ACTED recommends humanitarian agencies to work in partnership with healthcare providers to identify the specific needs in every VDC in order to re-establish normal operations.
Coping Strategies
Many households coped with the devastating losses of the earthquakes by abandoning their homes and leaving for another area. Some remain displaced without stable accommodation or income. Households have also sent their children by themselves to search for income elsewhere, placing the children in high risk and limiting their access to education. Likewise, women of the household have left to accept jobs in service industries, which also places them at risk of exploitation.
Other coping strategies have included limiting expenses on food, education and health, selling productive and non-productive assets, and taking on debt. ACTED recommends providing for the urgent needs of households as identified previously, in order to reduce the stress that the lack of basic essentials places on a family, and thus reduce the need for negative coping strategies. ACTED also recommends that all programming in Ramechhap incorporate a protection- and gender-sensitive approach that takes into account the increased vulnerabilities of women and children.
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 54
ANNEXES Annex 1 – Markets in Ramechhap District VDC Ward Number of Average Time to Walk to number Functioning Nearest Market (minutes) Markets Ramechhap Betali 1 1 90 Ramechhap Betali 2 1 30 Ramechhap Betali 3 1 45 Ramechhap Betali 4 1 60 Ramechhap Betali 5 1 75 Ramechhap Betali 6 2 20 Ramechhap Betali 7 1 25 Ramechhap Betali 8 1 35 Ramechhap Betali 9 2 75 Ramechhap Bhujee 1 3 45 Ramechhap Bhujee 2 3 30 Ramechhap Bhujee 3 3 10 Ramechhap Bhujee 4 1 20 Ramechhap Bhujee 5 3 30 Ramechhap Bhujee 6 3 15 Ramechhap Bhujee 7 3 20 Ramechhap Bhujee 8 3 30 Ramechhap Bhujee 9 3 45 Ramechhap Duragau 1 0 90 Ramechhap Duragau 2 0 240 Ramechhap Duragau 3 0 60 Ramechhap Duragau 4 0 180 Ramechhap Duragau 5 0 170 Ramechhap Duragau 6 0 170 Ramechhap Duragau 7 0 90 Ramechhap Duragau 8 1 10 Ramechhap Duragau 9 0 80 Ramechhap Guptesor 1 2 120 Ramechhap Guptesor 2 1 90 Ramechhap Guptesor 3 1 35 Ramechhap Guptesor 4 1 40 Ramechhap Guptesor 5 1 20 Ramechhap Guptesor 6 1 15 Ramechhap Guptesor 7 1 50 Ramechhap Guptesor 8 1 30 Ramechhap Guptesor 9 1 60 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 1 1 90
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 55
Ramechhap Kubukasthali 2 1 30 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 3 1 60 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 4 1 30 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 5 1 60 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 6 1 45 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 7 1 60 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 8 1 60 Ramechhap Kubukasthali 9 1 60 Ramechhap Namadi 1 1 15 Ramechhap Namadi 2 2 150 Ramechhap Namadi 3 9 30 Ramechhap Namadi 4 2 45 Ramechhap Namadi 5 9 60 Ramechhap Namadi 6 9 45 Ramechhap Namadi 7 8 60 Ramechhap Namadi 8 6 45 Ramechhap Namadi 9 2 180 Ramechhap Farpu 1 1 60 Ramechhap Farpu 2 1 50 Ramechhap Farpu 3 1 49 Ramechhap Farpu 4 1 60 Ramechhap Farpu 5 1 50 Ramechhap Farpu 6 1 50 Ramechhap Farpu 7 1 54 Ramechhap Farpu 8 1 34 Ramechhap Farpu 9 1 99 Annex 2 - Gravity Water Supply Schemes Damaged but Functioning District VDC Ward Name of Water Source number Ramechhap Betali 1 Khalte Ramechhap Betali 2 Pond Ramechhap Betali 3 Bhateri Dhara Ramechhap Betali 4 Pond Ramechhap Betali 5 Simbata Ramechhap Betali 6 Khahare pani Ramechhap Betali 7 N/A Ramechhap Betali 8 Haluwa Nagthan Ramechhap Betali 9 Dhardhare Ramechhap Bhujee 1 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 2 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 3 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 4 Gipsa Khane Pani
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 56
Ramechhap Bhujee 5 Gipsa Khane Pani Ramechhap Bhujee 6 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 7 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 8 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 9 N/A Ramechhap Duragau 1 1 Ramechhap Duragau 2 N/A Ramechhap Duragau 3 Nigale Khola Ramechhap Duragau 4 N/A Ramechhap Duragau 5 Maidane khane pani, Simkuna, Maha khane pani Ramechhap Duragau 6 Durapa Khane pani Ramechhap Duragau 7 Durapa Khane pani Ramechhap Duragau 8 Durapa Khane pani Ramechhap Duragau 9 Burpa Ramechhap Guptesor 1 Dhadkhola Ramechhap Guptesor 2 Dosothola Ramechhap Guptesor 3 Manuwakhaola Ramechhap Guptesor 4 Manuwakhaola Ramechhap Guptesor 5 Tharthare Khola Ramechhap Guptesor 6 N/A Ramechhap Guptesor 7 Simpani Ramechhap Guptesor 8 Lasinga khola Ramechhap Guptesor 9 Aapar khola,Simdhara,Sanokhola Ramechhap Kubukasthali 1 Simphali Bashari Ramechhap Kubukasthali 2 Rotak Khanepni Ramechhap Kubukasthali 3 Jhuge Pani, Salme Pani,Aablu Pani Ramechhap Kubukasthali 4 Barahage Khanepani Ramechhap Kubukasthali 5 Matan Dhara, Fulfill Pani Ramechhap Kubukasthali 6 Karundo, Koldanda, Belding, Khare, Dugam Ramechhap Kubukasthali Khatu, Bhataban, Shelkapu, Shanshori 7 Khop,Verpule Khop Ramechhap Kubukasthali 8 Listhali, Aolme, Chalpe, Jhaute, Puna Ramechhap Kubukasthali Thading,Katanje,Magalding,Gairamane 1, 9 Gairamane 2 Ramechhap Namadi 1 Bhirkharka and Gogane Ramechhap Namadi 2 kera Ghari, Lisepati Ramechhap Namadi 3 Hile Gairi Ramechhap Namadi 4 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 5 Khahare Khola,Gahare khola,Lamo Dhara Ramechhap Namadi 6 Thalari Danda,Junge Pani, Khumti Pani Ramechhap Namadi 7 Tin Dhara Ramechhap Namadi 8 Wodare Pani,Charibhageni,devithan Ramechhap Namadi 9 Devi than,Madi Khola, Amphe Khola
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 57
Ramechhap Farpu 1 Dhad Kharka, Halpu Khola, Saune Pani, Vittri Ramechhap Farpu 2 Halpu Khola, Kalakholo Ramechhap Farpu 3 Saur Khola Ramechhap Farpu 4 Aale Khola Ramechhap Farpu 5 Farpu Khola,MangarKhola,Lute Khola Ramechhap Farpu 6 Jamkiri Ramechhap Farpu 7 Jamkiri, Dharapani Ramechhap Farpu Jamune Bhadaure, Timbere, Mangali, Panukhola, 8 Tudikhola Ramechhap Farpu 9 N/A Annex 3 – Gravity Water Supply Schemes Destroyed and Non- Functioning District VDC Ward Name of Water Source number Ramechhap Betali 1 Bashari Ramechhap Betali 2 Rotak Khanepani Ramechhap Betali 3 N/A Ramechhap Betali 4 Jhuge Pani, Salme Pani, Aablu Pani Ramechhap Betali 5 Barahage Khanepani Ramechhap Betali 6 Dugam, Koldanda, Karundo Ramechhap Betali 7 Shanshori Khop, Shelkapu,Bhataban Ramechhap Betali 8 Jhaute, Chape Ramechhap Betali 9 Thading, Kantanje, magalding, gairamane 1, gairamane 2 Ramechhap Bhujee 1 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 2 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 3 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 4 Gipsa Khane Pani Ramechhap Bhujee 5 Gipsa Khane Pani Ramechhap Bhujee 6 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 7 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 8 N/A Ramechhap Bhujee 9 N/A Ramechhap Duragau 1 N/A Ramechhap Duragau 2 Nigale Khola Ramechhap Duragau 3 N/A Ramechhap Duragau 4 Maidhane Khane pani, Simkuna, Maha khane pani Ramechhap Duragau 5 Durapa Khane Pani Ramechhap Duragau 6 Durapa Khane Pani Ramechhap Duragau 7 Durapa Khane Pani Ramechhap Duragau 8 Burpa Ramechhap Duragau 9 Batalu
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 58
Ramechhap Guptesor 1 N/A Ramechhap Guptesor 2 Nigale Khola Ramechhap Guptesor 3 N/A Ramechhap Guptesor 4 Maidhane Khane pani, Simkuna, Maha khane pani Ramechhap Guptesor 5 Durapa Khane Pani Ramechhap Guptesor 6 Durapa Khane Pani Ramechhap Guptesor 7 Durapa Khane Pani Ramechhap Guptesor 8 Burpa Ramechhap Guptesor 9 Batalu Ramechhap Kubukasthali 1 Dhanda Kharka, Halpu Khola, Saune Pani, Vittari Ramechhap Kubukasthali 2 Halpu Khola, Kala kholo Ramechhap Kubukasthali 3 Saur Khola Ramechhap Kubukasthali 4 N/A Ramechhap Kubukasthali 5 Okharkhola Ramechhap Kubukasthali 6 Jamkiri Ramechhap Kubukasthali 7 Jamkiri, Dharapani Ramechhap Kubukasthali 8 Jamune Bhadaure, Timbere, Mangali, Panukhola, Tudikhola Ramechhap Kubukasthali 9 Dharapani,Dudhije,Hile,Uttise khanepani Ramechhap Namadi 1 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 2 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 3 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 4 Gipsa Khane Pani Ramechhap Namadi 5 Gipsa Khane Pani Ramechhap Namadi 6 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 7 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 8 N/A Ramechhap Namadi 9 N/A Ramechhap Farpu 1 Dhad Kharka, Halpu Khola, Saune Pani, Vittari Ramechhap Farpu 2 Halpu Khola, Kalakholo Ramechhap Farpu 3 Saur Khola Ramechhap Farpu 4 N/A Ramechhap Farpu 5 Okharkhola Ramechhap Farpu 6 Jamkiri Ramechhap Farpu 7 Jamkiri, Dharapani Ramechhap Farpu 8 Jamune Bhadaure, Timbere, Mangali, Panukhola, Tudikhola Ramechhap Farpu 9 Dharapani,Dudhije,Hile,Uttise khanepani
ACTED Nepal: Detailed Needs Assessment in Ramechhap District (March 2016) Page | 59