UMN EQ Response May 2015
Situation Assessment
Identification
District
VDC
Households
Ward assessed
Assessed by
Assessment date
Dhading
Pida
2623
9, 8, 5, 4, 2
Avinaya Shah, MEL Advisor, UMN
18 May 2915
Methodology
The methodology included a combination of Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant
Interview (KII) and direct observation of the target area. In particular the Assessor used the
following methodology;
 FGD with community people from Daringa and Bhoomidhunga villages of Ward 8.
 KII with Pramod Rupakheti, resident of Ward, former VDC Chairperson and current School
Management Committee (SMC) Chairperson of Gol Bhanjyang Higher Secondary School.
 KII with Arjun Prasad Aryal, representative of a political party.
 KII with the District Development Committee (DDC) technical team involved in technical
inspection of the houses in the VDC.
 Individual interview with various individuals from different Wards including students.
 Observation of the village, houses and other physical structures like schools, health post.
The VDC has two distinct topographic belts – the lower belt which is just above the main
highway is a mixed community with majority of Brahmin, Chhetri and Dalits, and relatively more
accessible and better off while the upper belt is more remote, with majority of the ethnic
Chepang population and poorer. The assessment has covered both the belts – an FGD with the
community people of the upper belt, and various individual interviews and direct observation in
the lower belt. Therefore the Assessor believes that the assessment provides a good
comprehensive picture of the whole VDC.
Findings
Shelter;
 Most of the houses in the area below the Dolabhanjyang Higher Secondary School
(lower belt) are standing but have sustained cracks or other damages. The technical
team sent by the DDC has confirmed that almost all the houses, except for a few
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concrete ones on or near the highway, are unsuitable to live in. People are living in
makeshift tarp houses.
In Daringa, Bhumidhunga and Bhirkatti villages, which are situation in the area above
the Dolbhanjyang school (upper belt) about 1/3rd of the houses have completely
collapsed while the rest of the houses are also unsuitable to live in. They are now living
in makeshift shades made of old plastics or other locally available materials. UMN was
the only organization providing them tents and other non-food support.
Some of their key concerns in the current shelter include the safety of the children when
they are away for work, movement difficulty due to short and narrow space inside, fear of
rain (monsoon) that it might damage the food and clothing stored in the tent.
Expect support to buy zinc sheets.
Food;
 Most of the households in the lower house were able to recover most of their food,
clothing and utensils.
 About 2/3rd of the households in the upper belt were able to recover about 50% of the
food, clothing and utensils while about 1/3rd of the households could recover only a very
little.
Livelihood including seeds;
 Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Have planted maize and expect harvest in 4
months time. Land has cracks (in the upper belt) and some maize field is now being
used as temporary shelter. Likelihood of landslides in steep areas which might sweep
away agriculture land.
 Level of water in the local streams has decreased so are unsure if they will have enough
water for irrigating paddy.
 Working as wage labourer is another important source of livelihood. The situation of
finding work should not be different than what it was before the EQ but there is fear to go
out far for work as the children may not be safe in the current shelters on their own.
 Loss of livestock is not significant in the lower belt. In the upper belt about 1/3rd of the
households have lost some livestock.
 About 1/3rd of the households in the upper belt have also lost their seeds while most
others in both the belts have recovered the seeds. Rice seeds are the most immediate
needs which may be available in District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) which
is accessible by road. Very poor people may not have money required for the travel.
Water and Sanitation;
 Most of the water systems are ok. In the upper belt the water level has decreased in the
local streams which the source of the water.
 No water purification done. Initially the water was cloudy but is clean now. No significant
disease due to water except for minor sicknesses like flu, coughing, dry throat etc.
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In the upper belt only some households had toilets before and all collapsed now. In the
lower belt also most of the toilets have cracked or fallen down. Open use of toilets may
cause sanitation problem soon.
Clothing;
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Health;
 1 HP in the VDC. Of the two HP buildings 1 fully collapsed and another has some
cracks.
 Health personnel are regularly providing health services.
 No major health concern. Increased cases of seasonal flu, sore throat.
 Psychological problems, especially among children and elderly, like having fixed gaze,
shouting, scared etc.
Education;
 The VDC has a total of 16 schools of which 9 have suffered major damage and need to
be rebuilt while 4 can be repaired. 3 schools are intact.
 Most of the furniture and other educational materials in the 7 schools can be recovered
while there might be significant loss of these in the 9 schools having major damage.
 Likelihood of increased school drop-out due to physical damage of school buildings and
significantly affected home situations.
Road access;
 Relatively good access. The lower belt is within 1 hour driving distance (dirt road) to the
main highway. Road access in the village is seasonal and is closed in monsoon. But
even by walking, the farthest village in the upper belt is about 4-5 hours walking distance
from the highway.
Market;
 Local shops are open and both the food and non-food items are available. The nearest
bigger market, Gajuri, is about 3 hours walking distance. So market is not an issue.
Women/Children/PwDs;
 Concern about the safety of children especially when they have to be left behind at
home while going for work.
 General fear, mental issues like shouting, staring etc. among children.