Nepal: Thousands Remain Displaced from Earthquake, Exposed to Impact of Coming Monsoon Season
Nepal - In April and May 2015, Nepal suffered from two devastating earthquakes, killing over 8,000 people, destroying private homes and public infrastructure and causing 2.8 million people to be displaced.
In fear of further earthquakes, landslides and collapsing buildings, over 117,000 people sought refuge in displacement sites in 14 of the worst affected districts across the country.
Since the onset of the emergency, IOM, as the global and national co-lead for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), has been actively providing and ensuring services to meet individuals’ basic needs in the camps.
Over a year now has passed since these earthquakes and over 21,000 individuals are still living in camps, which have by now significantly deteriorated. This increases families’ exposure to the dangerous effects of the coming monsoon season. Data collected from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) identifies that 28 percent of this displaced population currently resides in makeshift shelters made of tents and tarpaulins that are not built to withstand the horrible weather conditions that accompany the monsoon, highlighting the urgent need to support these families with a safe shelter solution.
The adverse weather experienced during the monsoon season will worsen the already abysmal living conditions of those remaining in the camps, increasing their exposure to viral and bacterial diseases. As only 48 percent of the displaced population living in the sites have access to basic healthcare, individuals remain extremely vulnerable to various health concerns which could be mitigated through the provision of site improvements including interventions in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), distribution of shelter/non-food items and awareness campaigns on health and protection concerns.
Based on experience from the 2014 monsoon season in Nepal, over 200 individuals were killed, 50,000 displaced and 180,000 affected from flooding and landslides. Considering the increased vulnerability of the displaced population due to the 2015 earthquakes, potentially disastrous outcomes are ahead for 21,000 displaced persons remaining in the camps. Moreover, severe flooding and landslides could further displace households living outside the camps, risking the extreme overcrowding of already congested displacement sites.
The Government of Nepal - National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and Ministry of Urban Development and Construction, the CCCM leader for Nepal – requested IOM provide emergency life-saving assistance through the provision of shelter and site improvements to mitigate the harmful impacts of the monsoon season on vulnerable earthquake-affected families.
Reiterating the critical importance of providing life-saving assistance in a timely and effective manner, IOM appeals to the international community for collaboration and support in this time of urgent need. IOM is actively seeking USD 600,000 to jumpstart assistance for the extremely vulnerable caseload of displaced households remaining in camps in light of the monsoon season.
For further information, please contact. Maurizio Busatti, IOM Nepal, Tel. +977980 1004510, Email: mbusatti@iom.int or Ariani Hasanah Soejoeti, Tel. +97798101 75020, Email: ahasoejoeti@iom.int