Comparing Haiti and Nepal Earthquakes [Infographic]

This infographic has been created by Rajan Karmacharya of One Stop Portal. Please share and attribute credits accordingly.

Is PM Disaster Relief Fund Transparent?

By Puru Shah

There has been a great deal of discussion about whether or not Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (PMDRF) is transparent and effective in delivering relief. See my previous post, "What is Wrong With Donations For Nepal's Earthquake Relief?" for a background to this discussion. Given the choices to donate through local NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies and the PMDRF, this dilemma is a legitimate one. In this post, I will evaluate transparency of the PMDRF.

First of all, the PMDRF is one of the few entities that has been publishing data about funds received and disbursed in near real-time on its website. Besides a few local NGOs like Bibeksheel Nepali and Ktmshapers, most of the funds received and spent by NGOs, INGOs and UN agencies have not been published on the web.

Although it is possible to calculate funds received by INGOs and UN agencies through Financial Tracking Service, these recipients have not published this data voluntarily. More importantly, there is no way to track funds spent for relief projects in Nepal by INGOs like Red Cross, Oxfam and Care Nepal because they publish financial data in its annual report.

The next post will cover the transparency issue and its challenges for INGOs who have received donations for earthquake relief in Nepal. The chart below shows a quick summary of funds flowing in and out of the Nepal's PM Disaster Relief Fund.
Graph 1 - A brief summary of funds flowing in and out of the Nepal's PM Disaster Relief Fund. Graph by Puru Shah. Data Source: PMDRF Website as of May 22, 2015.

Healthcare Challenges after the Earthquake

Nila Manandhar, MD

Photo Source: EPA

A month has passed since the massive April 25th earthquake in Nepal, and the Nepalese people still continue to experience several aftershocks. Despite the daunting adversities that lie ahead, many are eager to start rebuilding their homes and country.  As the Nepalese people move forward, they need to be aware of another type of natural disaster - one involving their health. Nepal has lost thousands of lives to the earthquake, but more lives could be lost with a health epidemic.  Many earthquake victims who have lost their homes have camped outside in crowded conditions which, coupled with the lack of clean water and sanitation, could be catalysts for the spread of a variety of diseases. This could be compounded by the upcoming monsoon season, which will bring with it a rich environment for disease carrying hosts. Past earthquake in various parts of the world have taught lessons that need not be repeated.

Post-Earthquake, Monsoon Season Now Nepal's Biggest Threat

Post by Gina Gabelia

Imminent monsoon -scientists detect the beginnings of the annual monsoon brewing in the Bay of Bengal and anticipate landfall within the month- could become Nepal's third major disaster to hit within two months (1).  Coverage of the Nepal earthquakes has diminished from international media; funding goals are falling short (as of May 21 21% of requested funds – US $89.1 million of US $423 million – had been received (2)) and Nepal's recovery is far from assured.  762,390 houses have been damaged and their residents are in temporary shelters (2). 286,000 households need immediate food and livelihood (agricultural seeds) support (2).  547,000 women and children need supplemental micronutrients to stave off malnutrition (2).  1,146 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed; medical care is an ongoing need to handle earthquake related injuries in addition to daily health care (2).  Without additional funds and mass resource mobilization to prepare for the monsoon season, houses, schools, hospitals, roads cannot be rebuilt; food aid cannot be procured and delivered; medical care cannot be provided; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene systems (WASH) cannot be rebuilt; psychosocial needs of the traumatized population cannot be met; normal life cannot resume.

Nepal's diverse topography, with elevations ranging from 200 feet to 29,029 feet above sea level, and thousands of miles of Himalayan sourced rivers make the nation susceptible to flash floods and landslides during monsoon season under normal circumstances (1).  Quake devstastated Nepal, where the shifting plates displaced mountainsides and filled rivers with sediment and debris, can anticipate severe flash floods and landslides (1). 

Roads linking remote mountain villages, which lost 85 to 90 percent of houses, to the rest of Nepal have been decimated by the earthquakes and some UN agencies have employed expert mountain climbers to deliver aid (3).  The monsoon will further isolate these villages, which are unaccessible during normal monsoon seasons (3).  Villagers live in makeshift shelters made of tents, tarp, corrugated metal sheets and logs, and in some cases, old vehicles (3).  These shelters are not sufficiently sturdy to withstand monsoon rain, winds, landslides, and floods (3). 

Remote mountain villages rely on subsistence farming; many are food insecure and incidences of malnutrition were among the highest in the world pre-earthquakes (4).  The earthquakes  destroyed links to other communities and sources of international food aid and nutritional supplements, which are especially vital in the lean months before crop harvests (4).  The earthquakes disrupted the main planting season which occurs several weeks before the monsoon; early crops already planted can be harveted, but will not be properly stored against the elements (5).  The future food and agricultural security of Nepal is at risk as farmers do not have seeds to plant.  In a bitter twist of fate, the monsoon, which nourishes the sub-continent's food production, could starve Nepal's remote mountain villages. 

Thousands of people in temporary shelters in the Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere are experiencing early tastes of the rain and winds, which render tents and tarps useless to protect people or materials from the elements (6).  Water borne disease burdens, particularly cholera, could become deadly epidemics when the monsoon rattles decimated WASH Systems (3).  Trauma and shock are manifesting in significant swathes across the population; monsoon destruction will only exacerbate the severity of this trauma (3). 

The physical and psychological threats from living exposed to the elements through the monsoon season cannot be emphasized enough; this will become Nepal's third disaster without immediate intervention.  The window of opportunity to deliver food, shelter, and medical aid to remote areas is shrinking as the monsoon approaches (2).  People living in temporary shelters and camps may have to wait until the monsoon season passes to begin to rebuild their lives.  Nepal needs an additional US $333.9 million to spread public health messages, provide adequate shelter, provide sufficient food supplies to communities inaccessible during the monsoon, provide medical care, provide education/Child Friendly Spaces, provide public works logistics, and reinforce the nation's delicate infrastructure to ensure public services can perform during the coming months. Coverage of Nepal's woes have faded from the media, but the emergency needs have not been met, and will only get more pressing with the monsoon.  The consequences of inaction will be mass human and infrastructural devastation that will cost billions of dollars and years of recovery.

1)      Climate Central Report" Monsoon sets up 'race against the clock' in Nepal"

2)      UN OCHA Nepal Earthquake Situation Report No. 18 as of May 21, 2015

3)      UN News: "UN underscores need to act now before monsoon rains risk further disaster"

4)      World Food Programme: Nepal Overview

5)      WSJ: Nepal short of food and shelter as rainy season approaches

6)      Reuters: Homeless Nepalis sleep in open as monsoon rains approach

How the Earthquake Has Devastated Education in Nepal

Post by Gina Gabelia 

One of the many casualties of the earthquakes are schools and classrooms.  It is critical to construct temporary schools and/or Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) concurrently with relief efforts; children's physical and emotional well-being and recovery rely on their regular access to safe spaces to be free from harm, receive proper meals and clean water, medical attention, and freedom to be a child (3).  28,570 classrooms were damaged and 12,440 classrooms were destroyed in 31 districts (1).  Schools that escaped damage or destruction have been commissioned as homeless shelters, or community and aid distribution centers; it is not clear if these spaces will revert to their original purpose when school resumes on May 31 (2).  Due to the damaged and destroyed classroom spaces approximately 870,000 children will not be able to resume school (1).  Education experts expect temporary schools can be up and running as soon as sufficient temporary or alternative spaces, supplies, and teachers are available, but it could take up to two years to reconstruct all the damaged schools (4). 

Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) staffed by teachers, caring adults, and community leaders have been established in 109 communities, serving 109,000 children (1).  All affected communities and temporary settlements need CFS to give children supervised structure to safely play, learn, engage in age appropriate activities, and begin to process their traumatic experiences (3).  CFS double as messaging centers to deliver critical information about safe health practices, including messaging about hygiene, trafficking, nutrition, and recovery efforts.  Children are at increased risk of trafficking and exploitation as traffickers prey on disrupted communities and desperate individuals in emergency situations (3).  CFS, and schools keep children away from traffickers and other dangers during the day.  An added benefit is that adults are free to attend to the business of recovery and reconstruction with (minimal) worry, expediting the road to recovery (3).

As Nepal moves through the stages of disaster recovery, it is critical not to lose hard won gains or stall progress by failing to recognize that addressing children's educational and emotional needs and well-being now defines the nation's future.  Before the earthquakes, 95 percent of primary school aged children attended school, up from 64 percent in 1990 (2).  Recent events set back two decades of steady progress.  Child advocates warn of the challenges of recovering academic progress and behavioral development caused by interrupted education; children may never catch up to level appropriate academic performance and subsequently decide not to try as it becomes too hard (2).  This is compounded by the extent of devastation and amount of labor required to restore homes and communities, which could take priority over school reconstruction and attendance (2).  However, education is tantamount to sustainable development.  This reconstruction period is a unique opportunity to integrate quality education into the fabric of daily life by rebuilding educational spaces alongside houses, and providing school resources alongside food, medical, and WASH relief supplies.

Children must have consistent access to a safe space to learn, grow, and develop as humans capable of fulfilling the responsibility to build a better future for themselves and their country.  Children must have a safe space to learn to read the histories of their ancestors, understand the mysteries of the world around them, and gain the physical tools necessary to dream and build a stable, sustainable future in which they are not reliant on foreign aid and emergency teams for their very survival.  Children must have a space to be children, to play, to learn, to escape from the terror and destruction that overtook their daily lives.  Nepal's future depends on it. 

1)      UN OCHA Nepal Earthquake Situation Report No. 17 as of May 21, 2015

2)      "Nepal School System Left Shattered in Aftermath of Quake"

3)      "Why are Child Friendly Spaces Important for Nepal Recovery?"

4)      "Restarting School Crucial to Nepal Recovery, Aid Groups Say"

Preventing & Treating Cholera After the Earthquakes in Nepal

Post by Gina Gabelia 

A cholera outbreak, which spreads rampantly through infected water sources, is a real threat post two major earthquakes, which significantly damaged Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems and displaced tens of thousands of people, forcing them to live in congested, poorly constructed areas with limited access to potable water and sanitation.  These dismal risk factors are compounded by the imminent monsoon season.  Soap, bottled water, water purification tablets, and oral rehydration tablets alongside cholera messaging need to be widely distributed to all communities to prevent outbreaks. 

OVERVIEW:

Cholera is an acute enteric infection caused by the ingestion of the bacterium vibrio cholerae, which is present in fecally contaminated water or food (4).  Cholera spreads when vibrio cholerae from infected persons' feces spreads to potable water or food (6).  Cholera is linked to poor access to clean water and proper sanitation and its incidence is pronounced when basic WASH systems have been damaged or destroyed (4). 

Nepal Specific Considerations:

Cholera is endemic to Nepal; the first case was recorded in 1823 (1).  The majority of reported cases occur during the monsoon when flash floods and landslides can destroy WASH systems (1).  Rural and urban areas are susceptible to cholera.  The most recent outbreaks occurred in Rautahat in 2014; the deadliest outbreaks occurred in 2009 in Jajarkot, which affected 30,000 people (1).

Before the earthquakes, roughly 37% of the population had access to latrines, making open defecation common practice; if latrines are unavailable, please refer to the guidance below for cholera prevention practices.  Nepali people eat with their hands and in this environment, it is more important than ever to wash hands thoroughly with soap before and after eating, preparing food, using latrines, etc.  If soap is not available, scrub hands with sand or ash and safe water.  The search for survivors is ongoing, and decomposing bodies contaminate water sources.  Therefore it is crucial to ensure water sources have not been compromised – if you are not sure, it is better to be safe than sorry, and purify water before consumption.  Remote, isolated communities need to be especially vigilant in protecting water sources; if those have been compromised, take measures to prevent disease contraction by following guidelines listed below, and purify water before consumption.   

Inequity and Monsoons in Nepal

Guest Post by Elina Pradhan, member of Students for Nepal coalition (Edited by Saugat Kandel)

Monsoon in Nepal is a season of hope. It is a season of new beginnings. It is a season when farmers, after having freshly planted their seeds, await and dream of a bountiful harvest. This year, that dream might not come true. In about six weeks, Nepalis will be braving the intense monsoon rains. Many even before the quakes faced the danger of landslides and floods during this season every year. This year, almost 3 million of us might face the heavy rains without a roof over their head, without food, clean water or medical attention. This year, many farmers in the affected districts might miss the planting season, which will give rise to longer-term food security issues.

No roofs over our heads

The shelter cluster, responsible for providing roof over the heads of the affected Nepalis needs $ 77 million. Only 21% of this total need has been met by the international community. The displaced populations also need coordinated camps. The camp coordination and camp management cluster needs $ 10 million, of which ZERO PERCENT has been met.

Source: UN OCHA

I worry that the government and the UN, despite their best efforts have not been able to prioritize the worst-off among us. 100% of the people in Dolakha’s houses have been destroyed, 96% of those in Sindhupalchok and 98% of those in Nuwakot. 

A Graphical Analysis of UN Flash Appeal For Nepal

By Puru Shah

On May 15, 2015, the UN General Assembly held a special session during which they passed a resolution on ‘Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in response to the devastating effects of the earthquake’. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed out that The Nepal Earthquake Flash Appeal launched by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is currently only 14 per cent funded. He requested foreign donors to provide more aid so that emergency relief and shelter can be provided to affected victims before the monsoon season starts (UN News).

The UN Flash Appeal is one of the more important relief funding requests for Nepal that is not very well understood. This post will include a guide for dummies that will briefly describe what the UN Flash appeal is, who makes this appeal, who coordinates relief action, the amount requested, the amount received and how the funds will be utilized.

It also includes graphs and charts to explain total funding received and requested per UN cluster and its recipients within respective clusters.

Flash Appeal For Nepal

On April 29, 2015 a flash appeal was made for US$415 million to respond to the humanitarian needs of 8 million Nepalis affected by the earthquake, over the next three months. This has since been revised to US$423 million. As of May 17, only 15.7% of flash appeal funds have been received. This includes $15 million from Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

The bar graph below shows total funding received and requested per cluster (12 in total).

Mindful Giving: Realistic Implications of Well-Intentioned Contributions to Nepal

Post by Gina Gabelia

Natural disasters elicit good will and compassion the world, but in such environments, interventions need to be applied strategically and appropriately.  Many kind-hearted people ask where and how they can best help, offering to donate money, goods, or even to travel to the affected place to serve.  My response to these generous offers is:  “Here is a list of reputable INGOs and multilaterals, with funds dedicated to Nepal earthquake relief efforts, on the ground with the expertise, staff, and resources to handle natural disasters in Nepal through all stages from relief to assessments to recovery (Please see below).  If you feel “it's a waste to give money to charities as the money goes to bureaucracy,” here is a list of local, grassroots (i.e. pretty much unpaid) organizations doing amazing, accountable relief and recovery work.  (Please see below).  

Alternatively, one of the most important steps you can make toward sustainable recovery is to donate directly to the Government of Nepal via the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.  This empowers the government to apply relief efforts more quickly and efficiently.   The Nepali people trust the government to spend the annual budget of US $5,839,130,000 or 600 billion Nepalese rupees, of which two-thirds was collected from tax and revenues, on public services to improve the health, education, safety, security, economy, and political stability of the nation.  Many criticize the Nepali government’s relief efforts, but it is important to acknowledge that government employees in the form of police, military, public hospital employees and public service employees have been at the forefront of recovery efforts and played a critical role in some of the most remote, hard hit areas The PM’s Disaster Relief Fund is specifically designed to deliver relief during emergencies such as this, and desperately needs additional funds to continue to lead international teams and contributions committed to earthquake relief efforts.  It is also critical to consider the implications of various external entities with different priorities overtaking relief efforts, as happened in Haiti, which further complicated an already tenuous recovery effort that is still delicate more than four years later.

Please donate a sum you feel reflects your commitment to relief and recovery efforts, to an organization of your choice.  Please also consider donating smaller sums multiple times as the need for aid/donor money will not be resolved within two weeks, or even two months.  

"Junkiris" of Nepal, Part I

By Puru Shah, edited by Anu Joshi

As the sun sets and darkness ensues, most creatures seek refuge in the safety of their home, den, nest, burrow or crevice. There is one creature in particular that continues its forage unperturbed. Despite its diminutive size, it uses darkness as an opportunity to create its own light. They are commonly known as fireflies. In Nepali, we call them Junkiris.

There are several such Junkiris in Nepal that caught my attention after the disastrous earthquakes struck the Himalayan nation. These Junkiris glow brightly in the darkness created by the inaction or a lack of swift response by the Nepali government. They sprang to aid the affected and continue to deliver their services or relief materials despite the lack of good roads, transportation or support from the national authorities. They used their literary, technical or financial prowess for aid. They deserve our due respect and recognition for their remarkable work.

Several of them and their stories have been included on our #InspireNepal page. This is not an exhaustive list. Send us names and descriptions of work done by Junkiris you have witnessed. If they are not included in this post, we will attempt to include it in Part II.

Vist our #InspireNepal page for more inspiring stories. Please send us your inspiring stories to our Twitter, Facebook or Google doc by using #InspireNepal.

After May 12: Aftershocks and Landslides - How to Mitigate the Hazards?

By Saugat Kandel

April 25: The Gorkha Earthquake

On April 25, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal with Gorkha as the epicenter - killing more than 8,000 people, injuring more than 19,000 people, destroying nearly 300,000 houses, and displacing about 2 million people in its wake. This earthquake literally changed the shape of the earth, raising the landmass around Kathmandu by up to 1.4 meters, while lowering the landmass around the mountainous region. The sudden, violent movements in the earth's crust caused major landslides in parts of Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Ramechhap, and Kavre. These movements also significantly loosened up the soil in the affected areas, and consequently escalated the risk of landslides with the imminent monsoon season.

Ground displacement after the April 25 earthquake. Source: NASA Earth Observatory

कसलाई गर्ने सहयोग, कसलाई हान्ने गोर्खे लौरी

- राजु अधिकारी

भुकम्पको  पछिल्लो घडीमा इन्टरनेटमा सल्बलाउने अनैतिक तत्वहरुले फेस्बुकमा भ्रामक हल्ला फैलाइरहेको चाल पाएँ । धेरैले भुकम्पको भविश्यबाँडी गरेको, धेरैले विदेशमा बस्नेलाई गाली गरेको र धेरैले नभएका र नघटेका घटनाहरूलाई समाचार बनाएर जनतमा आक्रोश थपेको देखेँ । हुँदा हुँदा कोहि कोहि ले त सचेत र सहि समाचार, सुचना र विचार सम्प्रेशण गर्ने ब्लगहरूमाथी पनि आक्रमण गरेको देखेँ । देशलाई हरेक किसिमको सहयोग चाहिएको यो अवस्थामा यस्ता घटनाहरूले देशबासीहरूलाई दुखित मात्र बनाउने होइन, संसारभरी नेपालको नाम बदनाम गर्ने र सहयोग गर्न चाहनेलाई हतोत्साही बनाउने काम गरेका छन । त्यसैले जनहीतमा केही कुरा याद रहोस् :

- नेपाललाई अहिले औंला उठाउनेहरू, हल्ला फैलाउनेहरू, अनि लुट्ने, खोस्ने, र त्रास फैलाउनेहरूको खाँचो छैन । नेपाललाई अहिले पैसा उठाउने, राहत पुर्याउने, सहि समाचार प्रसारण गर्ने, विश्वास र मार्गदर्शन दिने नेतृत्वशील उदाहरणको खाँचो छ । र यो दु:खद परिस्थितीमा त्यो नेतृत्व हरेक दिशाबाट आवश्यक छ - इटाँ पन्छाउनेहरूबाट, पाल बाढ्नेहरुबाट,  बिदेशी भित्तामा नेपालको फोटो टाँसेर रुदै पैसा उठाउनेहरूबाट, र निश्चय नै ब्लग र पत्रिकाका माध्यमबाट सुरक्षित रहन सन्देश अनि सम्यम र विश्वाशिलो रहन आग्रह गर्ने साथीहरूबाट । 

- नेपाललाई छातीमा टाँसेर सधै देशलाई अघि बढाउन तत्पर नेपालीहरू शायद सबै अहिले नेपालमा नहोलान । परिस्थितीले बाँधिएता पनि, मोबाइल्मा बीस पटक फोन लाएपछि बल्ल तल्ल बुवाआमाको र साथीभाइको त्रसित आवाज सुनेता पनि, देशले धक्का खाइरहदा टाढा बसेर बाध्यताकासाथ आफ्नो दीन्चर्या बिताउदा पनि, निरिह नभैकन देशलाई सहयोग गर्न कदम र कलम चलाऊनेहरूलाई औँला उठाउनेहरूलाई खबरदारी गरौँ ।

- नेपालमा फेरी कति बेला भुइँचालो जान्छ भन्ने कुरा कुनै ज्योतिश, इन्जिनिअर वा पत्रकारलाई थाहा हुने कुरा होइन । यस्ता समाचार फैलाउनेहरुलाई पहिचान गर्नु आवश्यक छ । भुकम्पलाई टेलिभिजनको श्रिन्खला बनाएर बेच्ने मिडियालाई पनि खबरदारी गर्नु पर्छ । तर यी हल्लाका माझबाट निस्पक्ष र जनहीतमा केन्द्रित समुहको पहिचान गरी उनीहरूसँग कदम मिलाउनु सबै नेपालीको महत्वपूर्ण दायित्व पनि हो ।

नेपाललाई अहिले हाम्रो खाँचो छ । र हामी सबैलाई एकअर्काको । 

(हाम्रो समुह onestopportal.org ले टाढा रहेता पनि, दिन रात मिहिनेत गरेर नेपाललाई सहयोग पुर्याइ रहेकोले, र बजारमा फैलिएका हल्लाहरूले मेरा साथीहरूलाई र हामीलाई विश्वाश गर्ने अरू कैयौँलाई अन्योलमा नपारुन भनेर, यो मनको बाँध फुटाएको हुँ। 

Who we are, and who we are not

By Anu Joshi

Who we are is a group of youths, spread out across the globe, bonding through our mutual grief and trying our level best to help in any way possible. We come from all walks of life, with a varying spectrum of skills between us. And as such, we have raised funds, medical supplies, tents; we have held vigils, we have prayed, we have started campaigns of various sorts. And even after all that - we are aware that all our best efforts have fallen short of making a significant contribution to our country.

Most of us (besides our volunteers on ground) haven't physically felt the earthquakes - but it doesn't diminish the terror, anguish, and helplessness we feel. Every single day and night that our friends and families suffer weighs heavy on our conscience, and we are guilt-ridden by the awareness of our own comforts. We lie awake night after night, calling our loved ones, and devouring every scrap of news we come across - obsessively tracking every earthquake and aftershocks. We mutely watch the pictures and videos on the screen from thousands of miles away, as our homes and childhoods crumble into nothingness. And we quietly suffer alongside thousands of other Nepalese living away from home.

Cristiano Ronaldo Did Not Donate 7 Million Pounds to Nepal Earthquake Relief

Despite recent news headlines stating Cristiano Ronaldo has donated 7 million pounds to Nepal relief, Save the Children UK has confirmed that the reports are untrue. In an official statement by Save the Children UK:

“The global ambassador for Save the Children, Cristiano Ronaldo, has used his voice and his global visibility to raise awareness of the problems faced by the most vulnerable children around the world, including those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. The latest information on the donation of Cristiano Ronaldo to the emergency response of Save the Children in Nepal is false. After the second earthquake, which has brought further devastation to the country, the NGO wants to thank Cristiano Ronaldo and other influential people for their support in publicising the situation facing children and families in Nepal.”

Source: Save the Children Spain Website

The Invisible Aftershocks of Earthquakes: Trauma [भुइँचालोको अदृश्य धक्का - मानसिक तनाब ]

( नेपालीमा पढ्न तल जानुहोस् )

Guest Post by Gina Gabelia

Nepal is reeling from not one, but two devastating earthquakes, and countless aftershocks, that hit the fragile nation within three weeks.  Recovery efforts which were well underway to clear rubble, provide temporary shelter, medical care, and rebuild homes, schools, hospitals, and cultural relics after the first quake hit on April 25 have reverted to emergency relief efforts to manage the damage and destruction caused by the May 12 quake.  While domestic and international teams search for survivors, mobilize and align efforts and resources to provide emergency medical care and deliver food, water, tents, clothing, tools, etc., another important consideration is psychological care.  Natural disasters, and earthquakes in particular, can cause concrete psychological distress to affected populations because they occur without warning and do not have a definite endpoint as after-shocks continue for days, and even months after the initial quake (1).  The unpredictability of earthquakes and the duration of aftershocks, in addition to continuous physical reminders of the actual quake and ensuing destruction, enhance feelings of uncontrollability, which contribute to psychological distress and trauma (1).

Notes from the ground: That crazy earthquake moment

- Guest Post (Edited by Saugat Kandel)

This is a letter received by one of the One Stop Portal team members from a friend on the ground in Nepal:

A letter from a brother

Dear Brother,

We had another earthquake today around 7.4 in Richter is rumored. My original plans for the day had been to go volunteer to clean up durbar square and later on go swimming on the hot day. That's how normal life had become. But yet again people are scared to enter their houses, the government is saying it's 6.8 while other news media are saying it's 7.4. Maybe lower numbers cause a little less panic, but it's already there. Most people are yet again going to be sleeping outdoors tonight. People were assured that another large earthquake would be rare, but feel betrayed. The worst part is about an earthquake is nobody knows the answers.

What caused the May 12 earthquake?

It is impossible to predict the exact timing of an earthquake. The US Geological Survey modeling, updated on May 08, suggested a 1 in 200 chance of a M7 - 7.8 earthquake occurring this week. The M7.3 earthquake that struck today at 12:55PM local time (07:05 GMT) was 5.5 times less intense than the previous M7.8 earthquake. But it has dealt a heavy blow to the earthquake survivors, who have been forced to sleep outside their homes again.

A Wall Street Journal article suggests that the M7.3 earthquake today was a part of the chain reaction of the April 25 earthquake, during which the fault boundary ruptures 150 kms eastward from the epicenter. According to Richard Walters, an earthquake geophysicist at University of Leeds, it is "consistent with rupture on the deeper extension of the same fault as it dips to the north, under the Himalayas." Preliminary assessment suggests that the second earthquake was triggered by the stress changes caused by the first one.

A comparison of April 25 and May 12 quakes. (Source: BBC)

[ HIGH ALERT ]: Emergency Kits - What Every Home Needs to Have [ अत्यावश्यक सामाग्रीहरूको सुची ]

By Saugat Kandel (English) and Raju Adhikari (Nepali)

Given how frequently Nepal is getting hit with aftershocks, it is very important to BE PREPARED.  Being prepared means having some emergency supplies ready that you can grab and rush out in case of an emergency. This could be a backpack that you keep next to your doors, or some other bag in some other easy-to-access location. Here are the fundamentals of an emergency kit:

1. WATER:
A few bottles of water per person. 3 day supply. Dehydration is dangerous.

2. FOOD:
Some non-perishable food. Chauchau, chiura, bhatmas, whatever. 3 day supply.

3. FLASHLIGHT
This could be very important if either the earthquake strikes during the night, or if you have to sleep outside.

[HIGH ALERT]: Earthquake Strikes Nepal Again

Live news update feed: Reuters, Reddit

Nepal has just been hit by another earthquake of magnitude 7.3, with an epicenter 18 km SE of Kodari, Nepal. The earthquake struck at a depth of 15 km, approximately one hour ago (7:05 AM, May 12, UTC). The effects of the earthquake have yet to be reported.
(Source: USGS, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us20002ejl#general_summary)

If you are in the affected area, please stay out in an open area, until the aftershocks are less intense. 

The Largest Donors & Recipients of Relief Funds in Nepal

By Puru Shah

In my previous post titled, "What is Wrong With Donations For Nepal's Earthquake Relief?",  I highlighted that a majority of the funds for the earthquake relief in Nepal are being channeled through INGOs, and bypassing the country's systems. To reiterate, I am not advocating for national and international donors to channel all funds through the PM Disaster Relief Fund.

Our team at One Stop Portal has developed a guideline that recommends splitting donations - 40% to NGOs, 30% to INGOs and 30% to the PM Relief Fund. Please visit our donate page to read in detail about why we believe a more balanced approach in delivering funds has a greater chance of success for recovery.

What is Unique About This Article?

A list of the largest overall donors or donors by category can be obtained easily from various sources such as the OpenNepal website. However, this article takes a closer look at where funds from each donor categories are going to. This data is valuable, and understanding it helps us make key informed decisions. But to my knowledge, it has not been published explicitly anywhere, so I have attempted to close that information gap by performing data analysis and sharing the findings with you.

In this post, we will review the largest donors and their recipients based on eight different categories:

1. Countries
2. Corporations
3. INGOs
4. Multilateral
5. Nepalese Government
6. Individuals
7. NGOs
8. Others

First of all, let us look at who the current largest overall donors are. 

नयाँ नेपालको जिम्मा, नयाँ पिढीलाई

- राजु अधिकारी 

काठमाडौंमा ईटाको बर्षात् भएको बेला गोर्खामा पनि गिद्ध्हरूको तान्डव चल्यो । पृथ्वी कम्पायमान भएर हाम्रो वर्तमान अनि हाम्रो ईतिहासलाई तहसनहस पारिरहँदा, भत्किदै गरेको काठमाडौंको कुनै गल्लिबाट एउटा निरिह नौजवानले फेसबुकमा इस्टाटस अपडेट गर्यो । अनि मैले पनि थाहा पाएँ, बर्षौँदेखि पशुपतिनाथलाई फूल चढाएर पन्छाइरहेको महाविपत््ले आज हामीलाई छोपि छाडेछ । 

आशुले लपक्कै भिजेका आँखाहरूमा मैले भग््नावशेषका अरू फोटाहरू, अनि थकित्, त्रसित र काँप्दै गरेका कथाहरू बाँढेर थप रोदन थप्नु न त जायज नै छ न त सहयोगी नै । म त मात्र आहवान गर्न सक्छु नेपाललाई छातीमा टाँसेर सधैँ रमाइरहने नेपालीलाई, नेपाललाई नयाँ बाटोमा लैजान ; र बाँढ्न सक्छु ती पर्दाभित्रका कथाहरू - जसले नजिक, टाढा सबैतिरबाट ती भत्किएका भित्ताभित्र हात पुर्याएका छन् । 

Notes from the field: 'We shall rebuild'

by Swarnim Wagle ( Sourced from Facebook)

This is another excellent post by Swarnim Wagle - his notes from the field, and his observations on the government's role in the relief efforts. His post also includes a very pertinent reminder that that local government structures in Nepal have been handicapped by an absence of local elected bodies for almost two decades now. Unless resolved soon (which looks unlikely), this could continue to be a serious problem in any long-term reconstruction efforts.

Here is his post in its entirety:

What is Wrong With Donations For Nepal's Earthquake Relief?

By Puru Shah

[Note: This post has been edited since its first publication to include more data and analysis.]

As businesses, governments and organizations make announcements to donate large sums of money towards the earthquake relief in Nepal, what is your general reaction to it? Undoubtedly, most of us get a sense that more funds are flowing and ultimately the earthquake victims will get relief. Only if it were that simple, millions of Haitians would not be still living in tent cities despite more than $11 billion in aid relief.

More than $445 million has been pledged by various donors for the earthquake relief in Nepal out of which $139.3 has already been received (about 31%) as reported by UNOCHA Financial Tracking Service.

$445 million is a lot of money for aid relief and recovery for an impoverished country like Nepal. Should this news make Nepalese earthquake victims somewhat hopeful of a proper recovery?

The only problem (as shown in the graph below) is that most of the donations are bypassing national channels. And this is a big problem. It is the same problem that haunts Haiti till this day and has been attributed unanimously as being responsible for the recovery failure in Haiti after the earthquake.

Situation Report as of May 6, 2015

Guest Post by Gina Gabelia 

Situation Report as of May 6, 2015 UNOCHA will provide updated situation reports every two days.  This writing presents the report covering the period of May 4– May 6 in abbreviated form.

• May 6:  the Government and humanitarian partners reached all affected districts. 284,455 homes destroyed and 234,102 homes damaged, 7,675 people died, 16,392 people need of medical assistance.  The highest rates of housing damage/destruction are in Sindhupalchowk, Gorkha, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, and Dhading.

• The  Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee released 1.79 billion Nepalese Rupees (US $17.3 million) to support relief activities at the district level. Nepal received US $93 million, including US $18.5 million for Flash Appeal Activities; an additional US $396.5 million is required to continue ongoing activities and scale up. 

One-day Earthquake/Disaster Relief Training

This one-day crash course is designed to prepare volunteers for earthquake relief. Help earthquake survivors by learning fundamental skills for disaster response.

When: 9am – 6pm | 9 May 2015 & 10 May 2015
Where: The Yellow House, Sanepa, Lalitpur

Contact nayantara.k@gmail.com |

Suggested contribution of Rs. 1500 per person. Contributions are donated to earthquake relief fund.

Please bring all your personal gear for overnight camping, your own food, snacks and water.

How to Send Earthquake Relief Goods to Nepal - Shipping Instructions

If you want to send any goods to Nepal via land or air, you may run into some difficulties if you do not follow the correct procedures. Here are some helpful instructions:

In both scenarios, you should:

• Make an invoice that details all the goods contained in the shipment and estimated cost. Include the name, address, and telephone number for both the sender and receiver.
• As the sender, write a declaration on official letter head to explain the goods are being used for relief work. Include the information of the organization within Nepal responsible for picking up and distributing the goods. Also mention where the goods will be distributed.
• As the receiver, bring a letter on official letter head stating that you are picking up the same goods, sender’s name, and where you plan to distribute.
• Make sure your receiver has an official ID handy. 

Stress Management for Relief Workers

Guest Post by Gina Gabelia

The International Community is grateful to relief workers, who fearlessly face insurmountable challenges and demands, to provide disaster relief.  In post-quake Nepal relief workers are literally working round the clock and suffering significant consequences,  in one case, an emergency doctor suffered a heart attack after working nonstop in a hospital in Pokhara.  Disaster workers are especially vulnerable to the strains and pressures inherent to relief work that detrimentally impact physical and psychological health.  The compounded effects of long-term exposure to environmental, political, and socioeconomic crisis and instability can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression or post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) (Soliman, H.H., and Gillespie, D.F., 2011).   In order to successfully achieve relief goals and missives, it is essential for disaster workers to practice self-care in both the physical and psychological realms.   Disaster workers cannot help or provide relief if they are physically or psychologically debilitated. 

Situation Report as of May 4, 2015

Guest Post by Gina Gabelia


As of May 4, the situation is shifting from early response to recovery; however, basic needs across the board are still unmet.

8.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, more than 3.1 million people are food insecure, 191,058 homes have been destroyed, 175,162 homes have been damaged, 7,365 people died, and 14,335 people are injured in need of medical assistance.

Nepal has received US $68 million, including US $7.5 million for Flash Appeal Activities; this sum reflects 2% of the total financial requirements for relief and recovery; an additional US $415 million is required to conduct activities across the country.

On Youth Empowerment - Let Us Not Let This Fire Die ( in Nepali)

Guest post by Prasthaan

धेरै चीजहरु छन् जुन बैसाख १२ काे महाभुकम्पले उजागर गर्याे । सर्वप्रथम त हामी नेपालीहरू विपद्काे यस घडीमा जुन रुपले सामाजिक सेवामा हाेमियाैं, त्याे सानाेतिनाे कुराे थिएन । अरूकाे सहयाेगकाे प्रतीक्षा गर्नुकाे साट्टाे जसरी गाउँ गाउँ र प्रत्येक तह तप्कामा तदारुकताका साथ हातहरू जुटे, त्यसले मलाई व्यक्तिगत रुपमा ठूलै सन्तुष्टि दियाे, सायद अरूलाई पनि यही किसिमको अनुभुति भइरहेको हुनुपर्छ । मलाई सरकारकाे र विपक्षी दलका बारे त्यति बाेल्नु जरुरी लाग्दैन । राजनीतिलाई पेसा बनाएर हिँड्ने प्रवृत्तिलाई अाजसम्म "ह्या ठिकै छ, जे गरे गरून्" भन्दै परिवर्तन राेज्न हिच्किचाएका हाम्रा माैनताहरू पनि म कम दाेषी देख्दिन । तर अापतकाे यस विकराल घडीमा हामी जसरी भावनात्मक रुपमा एक भएका छाैं, याे धेरै सराहनीय छ । परिवर्तन अाजकाे अावश्यकता हाे । हामी अहिले जसरी प्रश्न गर्न सक्ने भएका छाैं, त्यसले मलाई हाैस्याएकाे छ । याे परम्पराकाे निरन्तरता नै लाेकतान्त्रिक अभ्यासकाे बलियाे उदाहरण हुन सक्छ । हामीलाई प्रश्न गर्ने अधिकार छ र हुन्छ । प्रश्न गर्न (अनुशासित ढङ्गले ) पाइँदैन भनेर काँग्रेस कम्युनिस्ट कुनैका लिखित दस्तावेजमा छैन, रहेछ भने पनि त्याे हामीलाई मान्य हुनेछैन । युवाहरूकाे शक्तिमा मलाई विश्वास छ । थाकेकाहरुले देश चलाएकाे टुलुटुलु हेरीमात्र रहनेहरू अाजकाल अलिकति चनाखा हुन थालेका छन् । देशकाे नेतृत्व कमजाेर हातमा रहेछ भन्ने अनुभुति हुन हामीलाई यत्राे ठूलाे भुकम्पकाे जरुरत पर्नु अाफैंमा दुःखदायी हाे तर कम्तिमा अब हामी जस्ता युवाहरू हचुवाकै भरमा चुनावमा भाेट हाल्नु चाहिँ हुँदैन । सामान्य जनजीविकाका प्रश्नहरू कयाैं वर्षदेखि थाँती राखिएकाे भएतापनि यी बारेमा हामीले बुलन्द रुपमा हाम्रा अग्रजहरु समक्ष अावाज उठाउन सकेनाैं । तर याे भुँइचालाे सेलाउन नपाउँदै हामी सेलाउन भने हुँदैंन । बुढाहरू सेरेमाेनियल हुने हाे, कार्यकारी हुने जिम्मा युवाहरूकाे नै हुनुपर्छ । मलाई याे वाक्यमा वैज्ञानिक अाधार छ जस्ताे लाग्छ । देश जटिल परिस्थितिमा भएकाे बेलामा गिद्दे नजरहरु लाग्नु स्वभाविक हाे । भारतीय पैसावाल मिडिया र केही नेपाली सनसनीेखेज पत्रकारिताले के जनाउँछ भने प्रेस निरपेक्ष हुँदैंन । अाफ्नाे नुनकाे साेझाे गर्नु तिनीहरुकाे धर्म थियाे, गरे । हामीले त्यसकाे सटिक उत्तर पनि दियाैं । ट्विटर, फेसबुकहरु मार्फत अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय समाज सामु लज्जित हुन पुगेका ती मिडियाहरू फेरि अाफ्नाे अाैकात देखाउँदै अर्काे अाहत देशमा क्यामेरा लिएर लम्कनेछन् । त्याे अवश्यम्भावी छ । तर हाम्राे सजकता र जुझारुपनाले मात्र यी संवेदनाहीन र गैरजिम्मेवार मानवप्रायःलाई ठेगान लगाउन सक्नेछ । मैले याे सानाे टुक्राे लेख्नुकाे मुख्य अभिष्ट अाज देखिएकाे जाेस र जाँगरलाई कायम राख्न मद्दत गर्न खाेज्नु मात्र हाे । देश चलाउन सजिलाे हुँदैंन । हामीले सधैं सजिलाे र बिन्दास पाराले देश चलेकाे पायाैं । अब याे सिलसिलाकाे क्रमभङ्गता जरुरी छ । - प्रस्थान ।

Inefficient operation of Supply Chain and Logistics during Catastrophic events

By Nabin Kafle

Supply Chain management and logistics is one of the most affected areas after a catastrophic event. The regular local supply chain is disrupted and the flow from outside of the affected area becomes the victim of fear and fails to operate efficiently. Within the short time lapsed after the event, the supply chain is overwhelmed by the arrival of massive amounts of donated supplies. This adds to the bottlenecking of the under-performing disrupted supply chain network. Additionally, the donated supplies may include a large proportion of inappropriate goods or useless materials.

The incoming donation materials at the affected site might be so heterogeneous that sorting them in an appropriate manner becomes extremely difficult. The supplies might include items ranging from life-sustaining critical items like medicines and packed foods, to items that might not be an immediate requirement but can be used in the future like blankets received during a hot climate, to non-usable items like unusable clothes, items irrelevant or inappropriate to the event and even dangerous materials like expired food and medications. These items have been classified as High Priority (HP) items, Low Priority (LP) items and Non Priority (NP) items by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Number of studies and field investigation has shown that portion of LP and NP items during a catastrophic event is considerably higher. This also requires a greater effort to sort, distribute, label, as well as store the items.

The Forgotten Care

OP-ED

By Sadikshya Nepal

When CNN broke the news about Dr. Sanjay Gupta performing brain surgery on fifteen-year-old Sandhya Chalisa, the thought that came immediately to mind was praise for the doctor who saved the young girl's life. However, the conversation of Chalisa’s extent of illness and her long journey of rehabilitation is not discussed. In a disaster situation, years of rehabilitation are something no one thinks about. However, for the patients in these stories, survival is just the beginning of a lifelong rehabilitative battle.

Nepal is coping with its worst disaster in over eighty years and our hospitals are clearly overwhelmed. For doctors, saving as many lives as possible is the most important matter. Due to the number of patients flooding in, doctors might not have time to provide thorough care. Dr. Rajendra Koju, a cardiologist at Dhulikhel hospital, echoed that sentiment in a recently released New York Times video. He stated that, “We are not doing everything very correctly because this is a disaster. Everybody wants to do best but some limitations are there and sometimes they are not wearing the gloves properly, or even asking the patient their names on the spot. But saving a life in a disaster, it might happen.”This scenario is not new or unique to our country alone. Hansa Dave of the general hospital at Bhuj noted, one-year after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in India, that “At the early stages, lots of operations took place without sterilization of instruments. Hospitals had been completely destroyed. There were no operating theatres, no structures. … Now, we see the effects. Many patients are coming in with malunion of bones.” In countries that are coping with catastrophes, sound medical care is rarely practiced and survivors often become lifetime victims of unintentional medical neglect. For most patients severely affected by the different effects of the earthquake, long-term medical rehabilitative support is as essential a part of recovery as saving their lives.

Immigration relief measures for Nepali nations in the US

By Saugat Kandel

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a number of immigration relief measures that may be available upon request to Nepali Nationals at the USCIS website.

Here is the full text of the announcement:

USCIS has several immigration relief measures that may be available to Nepali nationals who are affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015.

Measures that may be available to eligible Nepali nationals upon request include:

• Change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even if the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired;
• A grant of re-parole;
• Expedited processing of advance parole requests;
• Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
• Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate;
• Consideration for waivers of fees associated with USCIS benefit applications, based on an inability to pay; and
• Assistance replacing lost or damaged immigration or travel documents issued by USCIS, such as Permanent Resident Cards (green cards).

To learn how to request relief or more about how USCIS assists customers affected by unforeseen circumstances in their home country, visit uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD for the hearing impaired: 1-800-767-1833).

A Closer Look at The Distribution of PM Disaster Relief Funds

By Puru Shah

On May 4, 2015, the Nepalese government released a total of Rs. 1.35 billion from the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund for the earthquake victims in 47 districts of Nepal.

This post takes a closer look at the distribution of relief funds in the 15 most earthquake affected districts of Nepal. In particular, it will analyze whether or not the distribution of relief funds was proportionate based on the number of deaths, injured individuals and damaged homes as reported by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It is suggested that you refer to our previous post "A Visual Guide to The Earthquake Impact in Nepal" for the number of deaths and injured in the 15 most earthquake affected districts of Nepal. Similarly, refer to our previous post "Nepali Govt Releases Funding for Immediate Relief" for the relief aid amounts provided by the government.

Compensation For Deceased and Damaged Homes (Minor)

The two facts that will be important to recall, from our previous posts are that the Nepalese government had previously announced cash relief of:

• Rs. 140,000 each for the families of the deceased, and 
• Rs. 25,000 each for families who are able to reconstruct their house with minor repairs.

Based on these above promised cash relief amounts, verified number of deaths, injured individuals and homes with minor damages, this post will determine if the government aid is sufficient in the 15 most affected districts. 

Government Relief Aid Distribution vs Promised For Deceased

Expat runs miles for earthquake relief efforts

By Saugat Kandel

In an effort to collect crucial funds to help with the relief efforts in Nepal, Nirakar Poudel, a Nepali expat living in Los Angeles, USA, has started a novel challenge called "Miles for Nepal Earthquake Relief". As part of the challenge, Nirakar is shooting to run 40 miles this week, and is asking the community to donate at least 1 cent per mile if he accomplishes this challenge. If he falls short, Nirakar promises, he will donate $1 per mile, or $40 to charity. This is only the beginning, Nirakar promised in a personal conversation with this author. He wants to take this challenge further, with more miles to run in the coming weeks. He is also trying to coordinate with other running events, sports companies, and other running enthusiasts. He is hoping to get more people involved, whether through similar challenges, or through sponsorships.


We, the One Stop Portal team, are amazed by Nirakar's dedication to this cause (40 miles a week!). We want to spread the word, get more people involved in this novel challenge. Please go "like" his page and donate if you appreciate his amazing effort, and please contact Nirakar if you are interested in collaborating with him, or in organizing a similar challenge. Help Nirakar keep up the good work!

The One Stop Portal team is cheering for you, Nirakar!

[High Alert] Nepal Quake Victims Vulnerable to Human Traffickers

 Anu Joshi

We are getting reports of [individuals] pretending to go for rescuing and looking at people. This is the time when the brokers go in the name of relief to kidnap or lure women. We are distributing assistance to make people aware that someone might come to lure them,” said Sunita Danuwar, director of Shakti Samuha, an NGO in Kathmandu.

According to The Times of India, on May 4th, four Nepali children were rescued from the Raxaul border while they were being trafficked. Nepali administration is already stretched out to its limits, trying to provide relief aid to the affected areas - and this increases the vulnerability of the poor and uninformed people.

The US State Department has said the Nepalese government does not comply “with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” but “ is making significant efforts to do so”.

Families and individuals in the villages where the destruction is severe will be an easy target to the human traffickers, as they are often tempted with offers of money and better prospects.

Please help spread the word!

Source: The Guardian

Situation Report, May 3, 2015: Needs Unmet

By Saugat Kandel

It has now been more than a week since Nepal was struck by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake. The official death tally has now risen to 7250, and the number is expected to rise still, with some sources estimating the minimum expected tally to reach 20,000, or an even higher estimate of 57,000. The official injury tally stands at 14,122, the number of houses completely destroyed at 20,052, and the number of houses partially destroyed at 186,285. With access to remote areas still scarce, these numbers can only rise still - it is estimated that around 500,000 homes are destroyed and 2.8 million people displaced.

Geographical distribution of the number of deaths due to the earthquake (Data from May 01, 2015). Image credits: Nabin Kafle 

Nepali Govt Releases Funding for Immediate Relief

By Anu Joshi

After much uncertainty over the last couple of days, the government has released Rs 1.35 billion as monetary assistance meant for victims of the April 2015 earthquake.

The Cabinet had previously announced cash relief of Rs. 140,000 each for the families of the deceased, and Rs. 25,000 each for families who are able to reconstruct their house with minor repairs.

Districts	Aid (in Nepali Rupees)
Sindhupalchowk	260.71 million
Gorkha	80.7 million
Kathmandu	160.30 million
Nuwakot	140.59 million
Dhading	110.97 million
Dolakha	100 million
Rasuwa	90.8 million
Bhaktapur	50.67 million
Kavrepalanchowk	50.71 million
Lalitpur	30.71 million
Ramechhap	20.24 million
Makwanpur	10.33 million
Lamjung	10 million
Solukhumbu	20.47 million
Tanahun	10.5 million
Parbat	10 million
Chitwan	10 million
Syangja	10 million
Rupandehi	10 million
Okhaldhunga	6.8 million
Khotang	5 million
Parsa	7 million
Mahottari	5 million
Baglung	5 million
Sindhuli	3.4 million
Gulmi	2 million
Kaski	3 million
Palpa	2.5 million
Sankhuwasabha	2 million
Bhojpur	1.5 million
Mustang	1.5 million
Arghakhanchi	1 million
Pyuthan	1 million
Khotang	1 million
Morang	1 million
Dailekh	8 lakh
Myagdi	8 lakh
Salyan	6 lakh
Rolpa	5 lakh
Rukum	5 lakh
Sunsari	5 lakh
Terhathum	5 lakh
Dhankuta	5 lakh
Panchthar	5 lakh

Source: MyRepublica