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. 

• It is essential that adequate aid reaches affected areas before the monsoon season; the priority is to secure pipelines and preposition goods.

• Five logistics hubs were established to supplement the existing hub in KTM.  An engineering team is assessing two additional sites.  The Cluster has handled 3,900m3 of humanitarian cargo for 30 organizations and facilitated road transport for 30 truckloads of relief supplies. The Cluster loaned 3 Mobile Storage Unites to responders.  Foreign Military Air Assistance is in country, but additional capacity is necessary.  Updated logistics information and road maps are available at:  http://logcluster.org/ops/nepal 

• Camp sites in VDC HQ in Gorkha are expanding to accommodate people displaced by topographical changes, upcoming monsoon season, and availability of resource materials.  The Baguwa VDC in Gorkha accommodates a new site with 834 people and functions as a pick up point for aid intended for villages further uphill.  Baguwa clinics are further supported by an inflatable hospital. CCCM Coordination started in Gorkha and Chauthara. 

• 72 Village Development Committee offices were destroyed; 97 VDC offices were partially damaged.  Immediate support is required to enable implementation of early recovery activities.

• In Gorkha District, 11 remote VDCs in Gorkha received relief items; which insufficient.  Supplies need to be airlifted to seven of the most remote VDCs in Gorkha. 605 government social mobilizers and staff mobilized to coordinate efforts in Gorkha. 

• 62,533 tarpaulins have been distributed in 29 districts.  260,000 additional tarpaulins are needed for more isolated communities.    

• 58 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) Camps hosting 37,500 people are open in the KTM Valley; provision of services is uneven and primarily community-led.

• The Ministry of Health and Population mobilized 274 national medical teams and deployed Rapid Response Teams for the prevention and response of potential disease outbreaks to all affected areas.   2,428 children were vaccinated for measles and rubella in the KTM Valley camps.  249 surgeries have been performed in 51 hospitals.  Reproductive kits were distributed in Gorkha, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, and KTM Valley.  The Cluster distributed tents, medicines, and surgical equipment in the hardest hit districts.

• Orthopedic equipment and supplies are urgently needed in the KTM Valley; hospital and maternity tents are needed in all affected districts.  Rehabilitation services for post-operations patients are limited. Transportation of medical supplies to remote areas remains a key challenge, as roads are inaccessible and airlift is limited.

• The Department of Education reported 14,541 classrooms were destroyed and 9,182 were damaged.  Coordination on structural assessments and gaps in reporting prevent accurate assessments.  Initial estimates indicate 948,900 children will not have access to education without alternative learning spaces.  The Education and Protection clusters established 28 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) that serve 2,800 children in the KTM Valley.

• Shared internet connectivity has been installed in the logistics hub in Deurali and the humanitarian hub in Chautera.  Internet is available to relief workers at: KTM HSA, UN Airport Reception Centre, UN House/OSOCC, Durali HSA, and Chautaura sub-OSOCC.  5 satellite terminals and 3 kits for distribution/ management of internet connectivity arrived in KTM. 

• 3.5 million people need food assistance; 1.4 million need immediate food assistance.  2,693 metric tons of food and 34 metric tons of high energy biscuits have been distributed in 15 districts.  There is insufficient therapeutic food for an estimated 15,000 children with SAM and for 70,000 children with MAM.  Blanket feeding is needed for 200,000 children, pregnant/ lactating women.  Vitamin A, micronutrient supplements, and deworming pills are needed for 362,000 children and 185,000 pregnant/ breastfeeding mothers.  126,000 children need nutritious food to avoid malnutrition.   Anthropometric materials, 450,000 boxes of multiple micronutrient powers were distributed to 12 districts for affected children. Air lift capacity (2 helicopters) are insufficient.  Food for cash programs are planned in Makawanpur based on the market functionality assessment.  Rice seeds need to be procured and distributed to farmers in the next 3 weeks. 

• Water contamination has been reported in remote districts due to lack of toilets; sanitation response is weak in affected areas.  The Cluster provided water to 340,513 people and sanitation to 27,984 in 16 districts and developed WASH guidelines for district level coordination.  Underground water sources in KTM are to be tested for quality. 

• Information on Gender Based Violence (GBV) is not widely disseminated.   Women's groups and GBV watch groups responded to GBV cases in 12 districts.  Key messages on sexual exploitation and abuse, unaccompanied and separated children and trafficking are broadcast through Radio Nepal.  7 women friendly spaces have been established in KTM, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Kavre, and Dhading.  The system has not addressed needs of people with disabilities or seniors.

• Local partners report allegations of misuse and inappropriate distribution of relief materials. 

• Fast tracking the issuance of civil documents is critical; at some distribution points, supplies and cash payments are only provided upon verification of citizenship cards.   

• Social norms make it difficult for female-headed households (318,000 in affected areas) to collect supplies, especially in VDCs where most economically active men are migrants.

• The working group to provide information in English and Nepali to affected communities is https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/nepal/cwc-working-group 

Source:  UN OCHA Nepal Earthquake Situation Report 11 as of 06 May 2015