Great earthquake in Nepal and Great earthquake in Nepal and humanitarian aid humanitarian aid

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Umesh Dhakal, HeadEarthquake Response Operations, Nepal Red Cross Society

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Geo-physical vulnerability

• Nepal is the 11th most earthquake-prone country in the world.

• Indian plate slides underneath the Eurasian plate. • Nepal lies across fault line in Himalayan range.

• DateDate : 25 April 2015: 25 April 2015• Epicenter : Barpak, GorkhaEpicenter : Barpak, Gorkha• Magnitude : 7.9 Magnitude : 7.9 • Major aftershocks: Major aftershocks:

• 26 April, 6.9 26 April, 6.9 • 12 May, 7.3 12 May, 7.3

• Total aftershocks: 400+ as Total aftershocks: 400+ as of 15 Oct 2015 (of 15 Oct 2015 (>>4.0 )4.0 )

The EarthquakeThe Earthquake

The Earthquake : A snapshot The Earthquake : A snapshot (Video Presentation)

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Impact The impact was enormous:

•Casualties: Nearly 9,000 human casualties.

•Injuries: Over 22,000. •Homeless: Hundreds of thousands of people. •Impact : Eight million people, almost one-third of

population of Nepal.

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An extensive devastation in infrastructures: •Buildings: Private residential buildings, government offices, heritage sites, school buildings.

•Infrastructures: Health infrastructures, road networks, drinking water supply, trekking routes in high altitudes, hydropower plants and sports facilities and so forth.

•An unprecedented experience of this kind of big disaster.

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International Humanitarian Response

• Humanitarian community: UN agencies, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and many International NGOs engaged heavily on search and rescue as well as relief operations.

• G to G support: Gradually, many countries donated aid and in kind support.

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Nepal government’s efforts

• Mobilised security forces: Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force in search and rescue operations.

• CNDRC Meeting held: The Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee convened meeting on 25 April and all the response mechanisms were activated

• Special co-ordination mechanism : Special coordination mechanism led by the Chief Secretary and joined by Secretaries of various Ministries and Security Forces established

• Command post: established under the leadership of Home Secretary.

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• PDNA Carried out • Housing and settlement recovery and reconstruction

strategy launched: June 2015.• Seven principles established to guide the recovery

process. New mechanism-National Reconstruction Authority established.

• International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction organised on 25 June organised by the Govt, two months after the great quake of 25 April. Billions of dollars pledged by the partners to support Nepal’s reconstruction.

• President of IFRC Mr. Tadateru Konoe also attended the conference.

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Red Cross response to Earthquake survivors

•Emergency relief committee meeting was called within few hours of the disaster.•An emergency appeal launched through IFRC within 24 hours of the earthquake. •International, regional and national disaster response tools were mobilised and hundreds of experts/responders from around the globe were deployed/mobilised.•Earthquake Planning meeting held with RCRC Movement partners on 12 and 13 June .

NRCS Response Tools NRCS Response Tools

• Earthquake Contingency Plan- 2008Earthquake Contingency Plan- 2008Every year tested and updated with simulation exerciseEvery year tested and updated with simulation exercise

• Movement Coordination Mechanism (CMM) Movement Coordination Mechanism (CMM) Regular sharing meetings (bi-monthly)Regular sharing meetings (bi-monthly)

• Emergency FundsEmergency FundsPrincep disaster emergency response fund (22 M NPR)Princep disaster emergency response fund (22 M NPR)

• Standby Agreement/ArrangementsStandby Agreement/ArrangementsWorld Food Program (WFP) for food distributionWorld Food Program (WFP) for food distribution

• Relief materials & Framework Agreements Relief materials & Framework Agreements To procure WASH kits and NFRIsTo procure WASH kits and NFRIs

Response Operation Flow

•Ensured safety and activated EOC, •District chapters informed and alerted

•Attended Emergency meetings (CNDRC, DDRC, NRCs, Movement partners)

•DMIS updated and movement partners kept informed

Response Operation Flow

• Deployment of response teams in all 57 districts• Information bulletin, DREF approval (within 12 hours) and Emergency Appeal (CHF 33.4 M within 24 hours)

• Tarpaulin distribution• Safe water (bottle, tanker, Kit5), hygiene• Conduct Initial Rapid Assessment• Immediate relief (Tarpaulin/NFI, temp. shelter).• Health and care (through Hospital ERU)• Dignified management of dead/ RFL

Response Operation Flow

• Search/rescue, First Aid, Ambulance• Safe water and hygiene kits• Immediate relief (Staple food, Tarpaulin, NFI)

• Health and care• Dignified management of dead/ RFL• Conduct detail assessment• Emergency shelter, NFI and cash

International resources, response teams, kind and cash support from IFRC/ICRC/PNSs started being received from day one

Response Operation Flow

• A movementwide mechanism ( ERO) established guided by “One” principles.

• “1+4” package designed:

Institutional Capacity Building + Shelter, Livelihood support, Health and WASH

(To be continued 4-24 months)

Coverage of response

Challenges

• Adaptation of plans, policies, strategies and guideline.

• One-door policy of Govt : Clarity issue.

• RC/RC status agreement with government

• Coordination and harmonization of practices with GoN at district level.

• Targeting districts, VDCs and beneficiaries.

• High demand Vs needs and inadequate resource.

• Smooth flow of international relief assistance and stocking.

• Duplication of delivery.

• Move people to new location.

• Land issues for rehabilitation.

• Multiple level co-ordination challenges.

• Logistical challenges.

Lessons learned • The earthquake proved as an opportunity to further

strengthen national unity. • Institutions and individuals in country and globally provided

significant support. Nepalese from all over the world, shared their emotions, and extended support in whatever way possible.

• We very much believe that we will now move to development with renewed strengths and based on the lessons we have learnt from this big earthquake.

• The whole world expressed its solidarity to support Nepal and people affected by this devastating disaster. This strongly demonstrated that humanity still prevails strongly.