Nepal, Early Recovery and Expertise Reconstruction post-earthquake

An earthquake of the magnitude of 7.8 hit Nepal and the neighbouring countries on the 25^th of April 2015. This resulted in substantial infrastructural damage across 30 out of 75 Nepali districts and the casualty toll rising to over 8’800. Approximately 800’000 individual houses were destroyed or partially damaged. Over 30’000 classrooms were destroyed.

As a response to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment PDNA report, presented at the donor conference in June the international community pledged 4.4 billion USD. This reflects over 60% of the requested amount of 6.6 billion USD which is required.

Observation in the most affected areas show that individuals have started already with the reconstruction of their houses without being sensitised at large scale to earthquake resistant construction techniques.

Four months after the earthquake remote areas are still hardly accessible and the ongoing monsoon is generating additional landslides worsening the situation of approximately 180’000 people.

Contribute to efforts in accessing remote communities in mountainous areas for emergency relief and to earthquake resistant reconstruction efforts after the earthquake in Nepal.

Populations in areas affected by the earthquake where infrastructural damage is particularly high, such as remote and mountainous areas. With a geographical focus on Gorkha district (SDC HA focus of emergency relief) and of the intervention areas of the Embassy.

1. Access: remote communities affected by the earthquake in mountainous areas have an improved access to markets and relief goods according to identified gaps and needs; and to necessary tools and reconstruction materials in the reconstruction & recovery phase.
2. Policy and Management Support: stakeholders at different levels (GoN, IOs, IFIs) receive strategic and operational support in post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction efforts (homeowner driven housing reconstruction, public infrastructure, coordination, cash transfer programming) building on previous similar contexts and programmes (Haiti, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka).
3. Technical assistance (TA): earthquake resistant construction techniques are taken into account and key messages conveyed in the reconstruction scheme for individual housing and public infrastructure to contribute to build back better/safer efforts at different levels (national/district/village). Other hazards (landslides, floods, GLOFS) are considered in repair and reconstruction, site selection and infrastructure rehabilitation (DRR).

Expected results:  

• 1.1 Mountain trails surveys, repairs and rehabilitation are supported through technical expertise (experts/secondments) and financial contributions.

• 2.1 Experts/secondments with specific experience are deployed at different levels (national/district, strategic/technical) to contribute to the recovery & reconstruction process.

• 2.2 An SDC HA expert supports the relevant local authorities in the management of a District Reconstruction Technical Center RTC (in principle in one of SDC RC priority areas) in the implementation of the Rural Housing Reconstruction Scheme.

• 3.1 Support to the Embassy with technical reconstruction expertise is guaranteed through the Programme Manager Humanitarian Aid.

• 3.2 DRR aspects are integrated in projects implemented by Switzerland in the aftermath of the earthquake to contribute to build back better.

• 3.3 Clusters (Shelter, Recovery & Reconstruction) and partners (e.g. Helvetas) receive technical support to integrate relevant earthquake resilience techniques in their different tools, training materials and response plans.

• 3.4 SDC HA experts provide technical expertise within the selected District Reconstruction Technical Centres RTC (including trainings to masons, artisans, local authorities, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders).

Results from previous phases:  

Following the earthquake on the 25^th April 2015, the Humanitarian Aid of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC HA executed a comprehensive emergency intervention for 15 weeks deploying a total of 75 experts achieving the following results:

• Shelter: Distribution of Shelter-Kits for over 13‘000 families, 1‘000 Kitchen-Sets and 3‘000 Hygiene-Sets in the districts of Gorkha, Kabhrepalanchok and Lalitpur.
• Food security: In collaboration with the World Food Programme WFP distribution of food to the population of remote areas of Gorkha District.
• Medicine (Mother & Child Module): Total 36 medical staff assisted within 6 weeks to over 1‘000 medical interventions at the Gorkha district hospital.
• Water and Sanitation: The supply of WATA kits for the production of chlorine solution enabled 100‘000 people access to safe drinking water.
• PDNA: Participation in the PDNA process through 1 expert (out of three Swiss experts)
• Early recovery supports in terms of engineering expertise and shelter material were provided to institutions in Gorkha, Jiri and Chandanbari.
• Mission Aviation Fund MAF: financial contribution of 100’000 CHF to flight operations
• WFP Remote Access Operation: technical assistance through ITECO
• Employment Fund (SDC RC mandated to Helvetas): technical expertise for the development of training material for masons and trainers

Relevant governmental, national and international partners

Swiss Embassy, SDC Regional Cooperation, Humanitarian Country Team (incl. Shelter Cluster, Recovery and Reconstruction and other technical working groups, WFP, UNHABITAT), WB / GFDRR

Swiss NGOs (SRC, Helvetas, Caritas, SOLIDAR, TdH, etc.),

Phase 2 01.10.2015 - 31.03.2018   (Completed)