TAJIKISTAN - Earthquake
• Due to the 7.2 M earthquake of 7 Dec, two people died, more than 10 were injured and more than 14 villages were affected in five districts. Detailed damage and needs assessment is ongoing.
• Over the next 48 h, the temperatures may decrease, creating additional impediments accessing the affected communities.
NEPAL - Humanitarian Situation
• During the past two months Nepal has seen severe shortages of fuel, food, medicines and vaccines due to restrictions at the India - Nepal border.
• More than 3 million children (< 5 years old) are at risk of disease and death during the winter months (UNICEF). The rising dependence on firewood due to the fuel crisis is increasing indoor pollution, which in turn could lead to a spike in cases of pneumonia. Over 800,000 children under five suffer from the condition, around 5,000 children have died in the last year.
ETHIOPIA - Drought
• Several ECHO field missions were conducted over the last weeks. Findings confirm the multidimensional nature of the crisis. The number of people affected is increasing continuously.
• On 7 December, Negash Kibret, the Ambassador of the Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations Organizations in Geneva, introduced the planning of the government of Ethiopia to prepare for such crisis. 10.1 million people are in need for assistance (increase of 2 million since October).
NORWAY - Severe Weather
• Heavy rain over the past few days affected several areas of southern Norway, causing floods, forcing people to evacuate and damaging homes, especially in Rogaland county.
• Over the next 24 h more rain may still affect several areas of Norway, especially south-western areas.
$130 MILLION TO SUPPORT NEPAL’S EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND RECOVERY
USAID’s commitment to Nepal has stood the test of time. In the aftermath of the devastating April 25 earthquake, our commitment remains stronger than ever. On June 25, 2015, the United States government announced $130 million to support Nepal’s earthquake relief and recovery needs. This contribution builds upon USAID’s investments on disaster preparedness, and is only the beginning of our contribution to Nepal’s earthquake recovery, which will span multiple years.
EDUCATION - GETTING CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL
In collaboration with Save the Children and UNICEF, 132 child-friendly spaces established in 13 most-affected districts, providing protected environments to an estimated 12,600 vulnerable children. 1,000 temporary learning centers (TLC) in 10 of the 14 most-affected districts.
Temporary Learning Centers sites also receive teaching and learning materials, psychosocial training support for teachers, and water and sanitation facilities.
SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Community resilience program expanded to nine districts in the earthquake zone and already supported 600 hard-hit families through cash-for-work infrastructure development activities in four districts.
USAID’s contribution to the World Bank Nepal Earthquake Reconstruction Multi-Donor Trust Fund will directly support the Government-led beneficiary survey in the 11 most-affected rural districts, as well as the provision of housing reconstruction cash grants to affected homeowners.
Since April 25, USAID has trained 985 construction professionals on building earthquake resistant shelters.
Over the next five years, USAID will train 13,500 construction professionals.
And orient over 285,000 affected HOMEOWNERS on building earthquake-resistant homes.
REBUILDING LIVELIHOODS AND SUPPORTING FOOD SECURITY
To meet the immediate needs of farm communities in 8 affected districts, USAID is providing essential agricultural supplies and technical expertise, including 50,000 grain storage bags, 400 mini-tillers and other modern agricultural tools, and 40 soft plastic cocoons for community grain storage
Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab provided SEEDS and SEEDLINGS, durable shelter materials, and TRAINING to Nepalis to help 2,300 minimize economic shocks in two districts.
Restoring ANIMAL HEALTH services in five districts most heavily impacted by the earthquake, benefiting approximately 60,000 PEOPLE.
Integrated nutrition program is supporting the re-establishment of POULTRY FARMS and VEGETABLE GARDENS in six districts
Short-term livelihoods support for FOOD-INSECURE 2,250 HOUSEHOLDS in five districts.
TRAINING TO LOCAL MECHANICS on the maintenance of the power tools, use of community garden kits, along with advice for better crop production.
SUPPORTING GOVERNANCE AND PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE
To prevent increased HUMAN TRAFFICKING after the earthquake, USAID’s Combating Trafficking in Persons program conducted vulnerability assessments in five districts, and expanded to six additional earthquake-affected districts associated with an increased risk for GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV), UNSAFE MIGRATION, and HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
USAID’s BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION and CLIMATE CHANGE adaptation program is helping ensure that recovery and reconstruction efforts do not have unintended negative effects on the environment. For instance, the program encourages sustainable harvesting of timber from community forests for reconstruction.
To help increase GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY on recovery spending, USAID expanded its local governance program to SIX AFFECTED DISTRICTS in an effort to increase communication and coordination between local government officials and community leaders. The program will provide medium-term post-disaster support, including preparation of recovery and reconstruction plans by Village Development Committees.
USAID’s governance program supported civil society groups to MONITOR BUDGET ALLOCATION, SPENDING, and the status of vulnerable groups in displacement camps, as well as capacity building to coordinate donor/NGO support.
Efforts focus on COMMUNITY REHABILITATION through PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, increased AWARENESS of human trafficking and GBV, promotion and creation of economic/ livelihood opportunities to help victims rebuild their lives, provision of legal support, and increased access to rehabilitation services and resources available from the Nepali government.
HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGEINE SERVICES
30 out-patient therapeutic feeding centers established
40,000 mothers, caregivers, pregnant, and postnatal women counseled on breastfeeding and maternal nutrition
81,000 sachets of oral rehydration distributed
11,300 bottles of piyush (a water disinfectant) distributed
25 community medical assistants deployed
400 Clean Delivery Kits for safe child distributed
42,500 life-saving Chlorhexidine gel tubes included in the Clean Delivery Kits
84,000 children under 5 screened for malnutrition
3,000 treated for acute malnutrition
Provided 5,727 physiotherapy sessions and assistive devices, such as prosthetics, to the injured. Extended outreach rehabilitation treatment care supported approximately 1,000 injured in the earthquake-affected districts.
PRE-EARTHQUAKE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION INITIATIVES
PEOPLE Invested in training more than 4,000 people to conduct RISK ASSESSMENTS and develop EARTHQUAKE-PREPAREDNESS plans for schools, hospitals, and airport and transportation authorities, as well as raising public awareness for the use of “go bags"
Trained more than 7,500 MASONS, as well as municipality staff and building contractors, on seismically safe construction and building code compliance
12 warehouses with relief material in strategic locations throughout Nepal.
Helped the government develop a debris management plan involving 9 pre-identified sites for rubble disposal in Kathmandu
400 Teaching Hospital staff trained in disaster preparedness and a seismic-proof blood bank constructed.
Mobilized over 1,100 professional emergency responders from across the country.
Supported the construction of 7 new deep tube wells within the Kathmandu Valley
In 2013, open spaces were identified and prepared in Kathmandu Valley.
China
Since the end of June, floods - triggered by heavy rains, Typhoon Nepartak and other severe weather – have affected 243 million people across 20 provinces. As of 28 July, 417 flood-related deaths had been recorded, with 162 people still missing. The China National Commission for Disaster Management and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have launched 16 Level IV national responses and deployed 17 teams across the affected areas. No international support has been requested. On 1 August, Tropical Storm Nida developed into a Category 1 typhoon. Forecast models indicate that the storm is likely to hit Hong Kong or the southern coast of Guangdong province. The HKO has issued a strong winds advisory and warned that the storm may trigger storm surges or flooding in low-lying areas.
India
Torrential monsoon rains over the past week have caused severe flooding in the states of Assam,
Bihar and West Bengal. As of 29 July, over 3 million people have been affected across the three states. Assam, with 1.7 million people affected, is the worst hit, with 310 relief camps hosting 147,000 people. While flood waters are beginning to recede, some areas of Sapaul District in Bihar remain at risk of secondary flooding due to rain water coming downstream from Nepal. Local authorities supported by the National Disaster Response Force continue to lead the response operation. No international request for assistance has been made.
Philippines
On 31 July, Tropical Storm Nida made landfall in northern Cagayan province. As of 1 August, nearly 4 million people were affected and 8,300 people displaced, with 460 people sheltering inside 11 evacuation centres. No casualties have been reported. The DSWD provided relief assistance to the displaced families.
Nepal
Since the beginning of the monsoon season around mid-June, nearly 8,600 families across 49 districts have been affected by floods or landslides. As of 28 July, floods and landslides have killed 88 people, displaced about 5,300 families and destroyed 530 houses. As the weather improves, people have started returning to their homes. Local authorities supported by the Nepal Red Cross and local organizations are responding to the immediate needs of affected communities.
Bangladesh
As of 31 July, about 1.5 million people across 18 districts have been affected by floods. Authorities confirmed 14 deaths and nearly 7,400 people are in 69 cyclone shelters. The Government allocated food and cash grants as immediate support.
Mynmar
As of 29 July, 15,000 people were displaced due to monsoon flooding in Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway,
Kachin and Chin. The Relief and Resettlement Department is providing assistance to affected communities but is facing logistical challenges due to limited road access and flooded rivers in some areas.
Bhutan
Since 21 July, monsoon rains and flooding across Bhutan have affected 125 households across 18 districts. Four deaths (including one child) were confirmed by authorities. The floods damaged major road networks isolating villages and disrupting the flow of essential supplies. On 30 July, traffic along the Thimphu-Phuentsholing Highway (the country’s main supply route) was restored.
OVERVIEW
From 1 to 31 July, torrential monsoon rains caused severe flooding and landslides in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal affecting millions of people and destroying thousands of homes. Disaster management authorities are leading the local response supported by the national Red Cross and Red Crescent, volunteers and civil society organizations.
The second half of the monsoon season is expected to continue until September which may cause additional flooding for the next two months. In 2015, floods affected nearly 18 million people across South Asia and killed 880 people.
NEEDS
Food, water containers, safe drinking water, tarpaulins, sanitation facilities, personal hygenie kits, and shelter materials.
Key Figures
28.5 million population (2015 ) 51% Female 49% Male
25.2% poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population 2010)
23% of all disasters in Nepal are landslides (between 1970 and 2015)
US$732 Lower middle income GDP per capita (2015)
Overview
Nepal remains a priority country for emergency response preparedness within the Asia-Pacific region given its high risk to natural hazards. The country’s mountainous terrain poses significant logistical challenges to access and deliver relief to remote areas.
Since 2005, around 35 disaster events (floods, landslides and earthquakes) affected about 7.8 million people and caused over 10,000 deaths, mostly by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. Nepal is also vulnerable to slow-onset disasters. In 2016 the Karnali region experienced drought resulting in 150,000 people requiring food assistance.
TAJIKISTAN - Earthquake
• Due to the 7.2 M earthquake of 7 Dec, two people died, more than 10 were injured and more than 14 villages were affected in five districts. Detailed damage and needs assessment is ongoing.
• Over the next 48 h, the temperatures may decrease, creating additional impediments accessing the affected communities.
NEPAL - Humanitarian Situation
• During the past two months Nepal has seen severe shortages of fuel, food, medicines and vaccines due to restrictions at the India - Nepal border.
• More than 3 million children (< 5 years old) are at risk of disease and death during the winter months (UNICEF). The rising dependence on firewood due to the fuel crisis is increasing indoor pollution, which in turn could lead to a spike in cases of pneumonia. Over 800,000 children under five suffer from the condition, around 5,000 children have died in the last year.
ETHIOPIA - Drought
• Several ECHO field missions were conducted over the last weeks. Findings confirm the multidimensional nature of the crisis. The number of people affected is increasing continuously.
• On 7 December, Negash Kibret, the Ambassador of the Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations Organizations in Geneva, introduced the planning of the government of Ethiopia to prepare for such crisis. 10.1 million people are in need for assistance (increase of 2 million since October).
NORWAY - Severe Weather
• Heavy rain over the past few days affected several areas of southern Norway, causing floods, forcing people to evacuate and damaging homes, especially in Rogaland county.
• Over the next 24 h more rain may still affect several areas of Norway, especially south-western areas.
