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Okhaldhunga Detailed Needs

Assessment

Nepal September 2015

ACTED HQ

33, rue Godot de Mauroy

75009 Paris,France

Tel: +33 1 42653333

paris@acted.org

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Contents

ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 5

METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................................... 6

Tools................................................................................................................................................. 6

Sample size ...................................................................................................................................... 6

Data collection and analysis ............................................................................................................. 6

Limitations ....................................................................................................................................... 7

MAP ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

Executive summary .............................................................................................................................. 9

Main findings ................................................................................................................................... 9

Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 16

MAIN FINDINGS ............................................................................................................................. 26

Demographics .................................................................................................................................... 26

Table 1. Population per VDC ..................................................................................................... 26

Table 2.1. Number of Households per Caste per VDC .............................................................. 27

Table 2.2. Number of Households per Caste per VDC .............................................................. 28

Contextual Background...................................................................................................................... 29

Damages caused by the earthquakes .............................................................................................. 29

Ward accessibility .......................................................................................................................... 29

Market Accessibility ...................................................................................................................... 31

Shelter ................................................................................................................................................ 32

Type of Housing............................................................................................................................. 32

Figure 1: Housing types in Okhaldhunga .................................................................................. 33

Table 3: Housing types in Okhaldhunga per VDC .................................................................... 33

Table 4. Level of destruction per VDC ...................................................................................... 34

Vulnerabilities of Type of Housing ............................................................................................... 38

Assistance Received ....................................................................................................................... 40

Figure 2. Shelter Assistance per VDC ....................................................................................... 41

Shelter Needs of the Communities ................................................................................................. 41

Women’s Perspective on Shelter Needs ........................................................................................ 42

Table 5. Measurement Converter Table ..................................................................................... 44

Non-Food Items ................................................................................................................................. 45

Assistance Received ....................................................................................................................... 45

NFI Needs of the Communities ..................................................................................................... 45

Women’s Perspective on NFI Needs ............................................................................................. 46

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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ........................................................................................... 46

Main Sources of Drinking Water ................................................................................................... 46

Table 6. Number of households per Gravity Water Supply Scheme ......................................... 47

Damages to Water Sources ............................................................................................................ 47

Figure 3: Safe Drinking Water availability per VDC ................................................................ 48

Women’s Perspective on Damages to Water Sources ................................................................... 48

WASH Needs of the Communities ................................................................................................ 49

Latrines and Hygiene Practices ...................................................................................................... 49

Food Security ..................................................................................................................................... 50

Assistance Received ....................................................................................................................... 50

Figure 4.1: Food relief received per VDC ................................................................................. 51

Figure 4.2: Food relief received per VDC ................................................................................. 51

Food Needs of the Communities .................................................................................................... 52

Women’s Perspective on Food Needs ........................................................................................... 53

Livelihoods......................................................................................................................................... 54

Main Livelihoods ........................................................................................................................... 54

Figure 5: Main Livelihoods in Okhaldhunga ............................................................................. 54

Crop agriculture ............................................................................................................................. 55

Plantation and harvesting time ....................................................................................................... 56

Table 7.1. Planting calendar in Okhaldhunga ............................................................................ 57

Table 7.2. Harvesting calendar in Okhaldhunga ........................................................................ 58

Livestock rearing............................................................................................................................ 59

Women’s perspective on Livelihood ............................................................................................. 59

Division of Labour ......................................................................................................................... 60

Table 8. Division of Labour in Agriculture ............................................................................... 61

Table 9. Division of Labour in Livestock Rearing .................................................................... 62

Women’s perspective on Division of Labour ................................................................................ 63

Assistance Received ....................................................................................................................... 64

Livelihoods Needs of the Communities ......................................................................................... 64

Women’s Perspective on Livelihoods Needs................................................................................. 65

Education ........................................................................................................................................... 65

Access to education ........................................................................................................................ 65

Table 10. Number of schools per VDC before the earthquakes ................................................ 65

Table 11. Number of schools per VDC after the earthquakes ................................................... 66

Figure 6.1: Level of school destruction per VDC ...................................................................... 66

Figure 6.2: Level of school destruction per VDC ...................................................................... 67

Women’s perspective on access to education ................................................................................ 68

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Education Needs ............................................................................................................................ 68

Health ................................................................................................................................................. 70

Access to Health Facilities ............................................................................................................. 70

Figure 7: Location of health care provision ............................................................................... 70

Women’s perspective on access to health facilities ....................................................................... 71

Healthcare Needs ........................................................................................................................... 71

Coping Strategies ............................................................................................................................... 72

Figure 8. Coping Strategies of Households ............................................................................... 73

Women’s perspective on Coping Strategies .................................................................................. 74

Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 76

ANNEXES ......................................................................................................................................... 77

Annex 1 – Okhaldhunga’s markets ............................................................................................ 77

Annex 2 - Gravity Water Supply Schemes Damaged but Functioning ..................................... 80

Annex 3 – Gravity Water Supply Schemes Destroyed and Non-Functioning ........................... 83

ACRONYMS

AMEU – Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit

FGD – Focus Group Discussion

INGO – International Non-Governmental Organisation

KII – Key Informant Interview

NFI – Non-Food Items

PDD – Project Development Department

VDC – Village Development Committee

WASH- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

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INTRODUCTION

On the 25th April 2015, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 earthquake, causing major damages to houses and

infrastructures, killing over 8,800 people and injuring thousands more. The Government of Nepal

(GoN) has reported that 30 out of overall 75 districts were affected, including highly populated

areas in Kathmandu Valley but mostly remote areas in the mountains, especially Sindhupalchowk,

Kavre, Nuwakot, Rasuva, and Dolakha districts in the central region and in Kaski, Gorkha,

Lamnjung districts in the Western region1.

A subsequent 7.3 earthquake hit the country on the 12th May 2015, with its epicentre in

Sindhupalchowk. Multiple aftershocks have since been experienced, leading thousands of

traumatized households to sleep outside in makeshift shelters in fear of further collapsing. As of

7th of July 2015, it is estimated that about 600,000 houses were fully damaged by both

earthquakes, with an additional 280,000 houses being partially damaged, adding up to more than

two thirds of the country’s buildings having been affected by the 2015 earthquakes2.

ACTED has established its Nepal mission two days after the first earthquake, engaging in relief

distribution and conducting needs assessments in the field. ACTED has its capital office in

Kathmandu and operates in Dhading, Dolakha, Kathmandu Valley (Shankarpur Municipality),

Sindhupalchowk, Solukhumbu and Okhaldhunga districts.

In August, Okhaldhunga Area Coordinator and AMEU decided to conduct a detailed assessment on

the vulnerabilities and needs of the affected communities in Okhaldhunga district, a new

operational district for ACTED. The main objective of this assessment is twofold: i) inform the

Project Development Department (PDD) on the needs of the communities in order to design

future projetcs, and ii) inform coordination on the needs of communities in order to target the

most vulnerable and overlooked communities.

1 OCHA in Nepal, “About the crisis”, http://www.unocha.org/nepal/about-ocha-nepal/about-crisis, accessed 12th of July 2015 2 OCHA in Nepal, “Nepal Earthquake, Humanitarian Snapshot – as 7th of July 2015”, http://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-earthquake-humanitarian-snapshot-07-july-2015, accessed 12th of July 2015

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METHODOLOGY

Tools

This assessment was based on quantitative tools. Two quantitative surveys with Key-Informant

Interviews (KII) were used to collect quantitative data to provide ACTED with detailed findings and

statistics on the needs and vulnerabilities of the targeted communities.

Considering Nepal’s ranking on the Gender Inequality Index3 and the significant level of

discrimination towards women and girls, AMEU also developed a tools aiming at providing ACTED

with comprehensive understanding of women’s perspective regarding the specific challenges they

face and the urgent needs that need to be covered.

The survey questionnaires were conducted at the ward level, with ward leaders (or, if not

available, with an individual with good knowledge of the ward and respected authority, such as

teachers) and with prominent female figures, including teachers, Women Committee leaders and

Female Committee Health Volunteers. These tools aimed at understanding the needs and

vulnerabilities of communities in ACTED targeted areas. Both questionnaires collected quantitative

information on the needs of the communities in terms of shelter, non-food items (NFI), water,

sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health and education, food security, livelihoods and coping

strategies of households. The ward leaders questionnaires collected more detailed information on

demographics of the ward, relief received, infrastructures present in the ward, damages (to

houses and infrastructure) and markets available.

Sample size

Data was collected in 15 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Okhaldhunga. These VDCs are

Bhushinga, Fediguth, Jantarkhani, Kalikadevi, Khijifalate, Mulkharka, Palapu, Patle, Ragadeep,

Ragani, Raniban, Rawadolu, Shreechaur, Sisneri and Yasam. Every nine wards in each VDC was

assessed. In total, 90 ward leaders and 135 women leaders were interviewed, including 45 female

Committee Health Volunteers, 79 Women Committee Members, 3 Women Leaders, 7 teachers

and 1 social mobilizer.

Data collection and analysis

Data was collected in the field during end of August 2015. Enumerators were daily workers hired

by ACTED for this specific task. Forms were crosschecked to avoid any discrepancies in data by the

AME Officer in the base. Quantitative analysis was done using Excel software by ACTED’s AMEU

Manager in Kathmandu.

3 http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/gender-inequality-index-gii (accessed 26/07/15)

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Limitations

AMEU identified three main limitations to this assessment.

1. Demographic data can only be collected on registered households, except for the case

where ward leaders have information on the number of landless people in their ward.

Indeed, at the beginning of ACTED mission in Nepal, AMEU discovered that only land

and/or property owners could register their households in their respective wards. Local

authorities do not recognize landless people as ward inhabitants. Lessees, for example, are

not registered on official records. This very often leads to blunt discrimination towards

unregistered households/landless people in terms of accessing relief. These households

count therefore amongst the most vulnerable of all; however, INGOs including ACTED, do

not always have access to their contact details in order to include them in their

beneficiaries’ lists.

2. Figures were sometimes conflicting between the data collected from ward leaders and

women leaders. AMEU favoured information data collected from women’s questionnaires

when conflicting numbers referred to women-related issues; and favoured data obtained

from ward leaders when the question required solid knowledge about community

structures and general organisation of the wards since the earthquakes. Yet both women

leaders’ data and ward leaders’ data were always used for comparison.

3. Most figures, especially those related to demographics, distance to infrastructure/market

and livelihoods, are based on rough estimations provided by our respondents who might

not always have sufficient knowledge to give an accurate answer. For all statistics

calculation, the total number of households provided by ward leaders has been used.

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MAP

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Executive summary

Main findings

Demographics & Contextual Background

The total population for the 15 targeted VDCs is approximately 58,907 people for

10,565 households.

The average household size is almost 6 members across all 15 VDCs.

There is a significant proportion of women-headed households in all assessed VDCs;

in average, women-headed households represent one fifth to one quarter of the

total assessed population.

Almost half of the households are headed by an elderly member across all VDCs.

Slightly more than one quarter of the wards was connected to a main road before

the earthquakes. However among those, almost two thirds were reported non-

functional at the moment. According to 81% of the ward leaders, these damaged

roads could be repaired with manpower.

The assessed VDCs were already poorly accessible by any vehicle (car, 4x4 or truck)

before the earthquakes, which poses a huge challenge in terms of relief distribution.

Indeed, most of the wards in Okhaldhunga are only accessible by foot (69.3% as of

the end of September 2015), which implies several hours, sometimes several days of

mountain trekking to reach a site. Furthermore, trekking in Okhaldhunga can be

extremely dangerous given the climate and general environment conditions:

monsoon, regular rain, landslides, fog and snow as well as lack of network coverage

make it difficult to ensure staff safety at all times.

Markets where communities can purchase food, hygiene items or building materials

are very rarely situated in the ward itself; hence community members have

difficulties in accessing basic necessity products in their daily life, weakening further

their capacity to sustain themselves and reach dignified and sustainable living

conditions back.

Shelter

Mud and stones houses along with wood, mud and stones houses as well as mud and

stone houses with CGI roofing are the most popular type of houses across the 15

VDCs (98.1%).

Almost two thirds of the houses are not repairable due to the high level of

destruction suffered during the earthquakes.

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Community members are well aware that mud and stone houses along with houses

whose walls are made in mud and stones and roof in CGI sheets are extremely

vulnerable to earthquakes and highly prone to collapsing.

All households received tarpaulins; yet the large majority of households did not

receive any other shelter assistance (96.5%).

According to 77% of the ward leaders, the received shelter assistance was provided

by the GoN in Okhaldhunga. However, it seems that only emergency tarpaulins were

distributed; thus community members still do not have access to more sustainable

shelter solutions.

According to both ward and women leaders, CGI sheets are the most urgent material

to be provided to people in Okhaldhunga.

As per ward leaders’ ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of shelter are as

follow: CGI sheets, Training on Build Back Safer techniques to learn how to build safe

and more resistant to earthquakes shelters, assistance with building shelter, ropes

and nails and timber for frame.

As per women leaders’ ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of shelter are as

follow: CGI sheets, timber for frame, tools, training on Build Back Safer techniques

and GI/Steel wires.

Tarpaulins are not a priority anymore for people in need, as their expectations are

now based on the hope that they will be provided with more sustainable and

winterized shelter solutions.

Bamboo is neither a local preference nor a sustainable solution in Okhaldhunga given

the climate and the winter season coming.

The hierarchy in shelter needs reported by women differs quite significantly from the

one mentioned by the ward leaders. While a consensus is reached on the necessity of

urgently providing CGI sheets to Okhaldhunga’s population, ward leaders’

perceptions focus more on the fact that the communities have to gain improved and

deeper knowledge on how to build safe shelters and could be assisted by skilled

workers in doing so. Women’s needs revolve around more practical and short-term

considerations, i.e. the needs for concrete materials to be able to build their shelter

themselves. In terms of shelter material, additional to the CGIs, both ward leaders

and women leaders reported needing timber for frame and GI/Steel wires.

The large majority of community members seem to possess their own land on which

building a permanent house (97.98%). However, only half of them (55.56%) have the

financial means to pay for skilled labor to build their shelter. This, however, varies a

lot depending on the VDC. Details are to be found later in this report. Commonly used shelter materials in Okhadhunga include wood, stones, CGI sheets,

mud and bamboos. Stones can be easily provided by community members

themselves. Labour, mud and wood are generally available, yet at a smaller scale

than stones. Only 60% can provide bamboo. It seems not to be available in Bhushinga

and Khijifalate and Ragani and difficult to access in Rawadolu. 80% do not have

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access to CGI sheets or do not have the financial capacity to buy them in the market;

considering the high need and common use of this construction material in the area,

CGI sheets are an important priority for communities in Okhaldhunga.

Non Food Items

Non-Food Items assistance coverage has been very low in Okhaldhunga, jeopardizing

their capacity to re-start a normal and decent life. Indeed, non-food items include

clothing and household items such as furnitures, cooking utensils, light, fuel, hygiene

items and equipment in preparation for the winter. According to SPHERE Standards,

all individuals should have access to sufficient clothing and household equipment to

ensure their thermal comfort, dignity and safety. In addition, they must have the

ability to maintain their personal hygiene and cook in safe and clean conditions

sufficient food amounts to feed their family according to minimum dietary

recommendations and nutritional standards. This is only made possible, not only by

the availability of food but also by the possession of sufficient kitchen equipment,

house lightning, fuel and stoves.

As per ward leaders’ ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of Non-Food Items

are the following: kitchen sets, solar lamps, toolkits, hygiene kits and bedding

equipment.

As per women leaders’ ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of Non-Food Items

are the following: kitchen sets, solar lamps, hygiene kits, water storage and toolkits.

WASH

Gravity water supply schemes are the most common source of drinking water,

covering the water needs of 9,515 households (90% of total population in assessed

VDCs).

In average, one gravity water supply scheme provides water to 50 households.

9,857 households have been left with no or limited access to drinking water after the

earthquakes – accounting for an alarming 93.3% of the assessed population.

Impact on women and girls has been tremendous in Okhadhunga; all women except

one report that daily life and activities have been affected by the lack of safe access

to water.

Top three priority needs to rehabilitate water points are as following: cement and/or

concrete for the tank, HDP (plastic) pipes and source protection.

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Prior to the earthquakes, only one third of all households had septic tank latrines in

all VDCs.

Almost half of the households in Okhaldhunga had no latrine at all (47.4%). As a

result, 71.1% of ward leaders affirmed that open defecation was common practice

for those who did not have latrines before. The VDCs where ACTED is planning on

operating in Okhadhunga were thus not Open Defecation Free before the

earthquakes which has to be taken into account if planning programmes related to

latrines construction.

The earthquakes have not highly impacted access to latrines. However, access to

latrines was an issue before the earthquakes; half of the assessed population still has

no access to latrines today.

Open defecation is reported as a solution by 88.9% of ward leaders for those who do

not have access to latrines.

The lack of latrines which leads people to practice open defecation poses a serious

threat to the health of communities and dignity of individuals. Women and girls,

especially, face shame and a loss of personal dignity if they do not have toilets at

home since sharing latrines with men from the community might be experienced as

uncomfortable. Women are in dire need of intimacy, for example for changing

clothes or sanitary pads. Furthermore, they put their physical safety as well as they

would wait until night falls to relieve themselves in privacy, making sure that nobody

could see them.

Food security

Households in Okhaldhunga are in dire need of food assistance, especially

considering the broad inaccessibility of food markets near their homes where they

could purchase sufficient and quality supplies to feed their families. The majority of

households have received rice after the earthquakes (7,710 households across VDCs,

accounting for 73% of the assessed population). However, the levels of other food

assistance have been quite low: less than a fifth received sugar and salt, 16.7%

received lentils and 8% received food for infant and young children.

As per ward leaders’ ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of food are the

following: rice, lentils, oils and fats, sugar and salt and food for infant and young

children.

As per women leaders’ ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of food are the

following: rice, lentils, food for infant and young children, oils and fats and

vegetables.

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Livelihood

As per ward leaders’ estimations, all households in the assessed VDCs in

Okhaldhunga rely on agriculture as a main source of income. 10,385 households in

the assessed VDCs in Okhaldhunga also have livestock rearing as a main source of

income, which represents 98.3% of Okhadhunga’s households (double counting

included as most households are combining more than one activity and do not

differentiate the levels of income-generating levels).

Maize, millet / kodo, potatoes, vegetables, spices and wheat are the most cultivated

crops in Okhaldhunga. All these crops are mostly used for household’s consumption.

Households do not seem to have sufficient production levels to be able to sell surplus

on the market as a source of income.

Cows, buffaloes, chicken and goats are widely reared in Okhaldhunga.

Livestock rearing, contrary to agriculture, is to some extent a source of income for

households in Okhaldhunga.

For all activities regarding livelihood, women and men make decisions together.

While 75% of female respondents asserted that the adult male of the family is the

main provider for the household, one quarter said that women were bringing the

main source of income to their household. In average, women contribute to almost

one third of the income for their family.

According to women leaders, women are in charge of pre-harvest activities such as

plantation, cultivation, irrigation and daily maintenance and of harvesting. Less than

half are also involved in post-production activities. Women generally are, in

Okhaldhunga, generally well involved in decision-making processes on all activities,

especially when compared to other districts. Indeed it was noticed that in other areas

women’s participation in livelihood activities remains more or less constrained to

harvesting and field maintenance and does not involve any claim to express their

views and opinions when determining decisions on household livelihood are being

made.

Livelihood assistance has only reached one quarter of the assessed population in

Okhaldhunga. Five months after the first earthquake, only the residents of

Jantarkhani, Mulkharka, Palapu and Ragadeep have received a good coverage in

terms of livelihood assistance. Few wards in Shreechaur, Ragani and Raniban have

also received livelihood-related relief items. However, 90.4% affirmed that

households in their wards were ready to restart their livestock rearing and/or

agricultural activities. Activities aiming at rebuilding sustainable livelihood

opportunities for people in Okhaldunga should be highly prioritized as it will satisfy

great needs and respect the level of human capacity in the district as well.

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As per ward leaders ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of livelihoods are the

following: seeds, Agricultural training, livestock, tools and shelter for livestock.

As per women leaders ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of livelihoods are

the following: Agricultural training, seeds, livestock, tools and shelter for livestock.

Education

In the 15 assessed VDCs in Okhaldhunga, 95 schools were open before the

earthquakes.

Only 4 are still standing after both earthquakes. 91 were destroyed.

All schools have been destroyed in Bhushinga, Jantarkhani, Kalikadevi, Khijifalate,

Mulkharka, Ragadeep, Ragani, Rawadolu, Shreechaur, Sisneri and Yasam.

Damages done to educational infrastructures have very negatively impacted

children’s education in Okhaldhunga. Indeed, one quarter of the respondents have

no physical access to an educational centre anymore. Almost one fifth of

respondents are prioritizing boys’ education to the detriment of girls’ education.

Top three priority needs for children to be able to resume a normal education are as

following: reconstruction of the building, school supplies, WASH (latrines and water

access) rehabilitation.

Health

While 80% said that their closest governmental health facility was still open after the

earthquakes, more than one quarter of the respondents report that it became

inaccessible after the earthquakes, including all ward leaders in Bhushinga and 88.9%

in Ragani and Shreechaur.

The average distance is more than 6 kilometres in Patle and almost 5 kilometres in

Bhushinga. It even goes up to 14 and 12 kilometres for some wards in these VDCs.

More than two thirds of the women assert that their regular government health

facility has been affected by the earthquakes, including all women in Fediguth,

Jantarkhani, Kalikadevi, Mulkharka, Palapu, Patle, Ragadeep and Sisneri.

Near half of the ward leaders reported their usual government health centre had

been shifted in makeshift shelters; one tenth are operating in tents.

As a first priority for health cares to be functional again, damaged and destroyed

buildings have to be reconstructed or rehabilitated.

Top three priority needs for community members to have access to proper health

care are: building reconstruction, medicines and staff, which implies that the level of

patient admission is overwhelming the medical staff capacities in the district.

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Coping strategies and Protection

The large majority of households will, according to leaders, cope with the vulnerable

situation they find themselves in since the earthquakes by relying on labour

migration. Indeed, according to 96.3% of the ward leaders, one male adult member

of the household will most likely leave the ward or the VDC to find new employment

opportunities. Many people of working age in Nepal cannot find employment that is

adequate to support themselves and their families in their ward. This trend is of

relative concern as labour migration could provoke internal displacement and poor

quality of living conditions for the man separated from his family. Gender does not

play a significantly differentiation role as a high proportion of women are also

expected to move to find work.

Children are also expected to be subjected to labour migration, which might put

them at high risk of exploitation, bonded labour in high risk sectors and human

trafficking. This is a blatant violation of their basic human rights and it threatens their

immediate and long-term well-being and education levels. Migrant children in Nepal

are also, and girls in particular, at risk of being submitted to commercial sexual

exploitation and abuse and sold into prostitution to complement their parent’s

source of income.

Almost half of women leaders in all VDCs say that the head of the household will

have to move to find work, a situation that has to be carefully monitored to ensure

that the basic rights of the labour migrant are safeguarded and that the working

conditions respect minimum employment standards, i.e. minimum wage, maximum

working hours and formal agreements between the employer and the employee,

including for daily workers who represent the bulk of the labor migrants in Nepal.

Furthermore, it could also increase the levels of vulnerability of women left alone to

manage the regular livelihood activities, family care and household maintenance.

Of concern to ACTED is the proportion of women reporting to consider cutting off

food expenses (39.3%). However, the trends are not the same in all VDCs. Details are

to be found later in this report. In any case, reduction in food quantity and meal

frequency could greatly endanger their health in terms of proper nutrition levels and

quality diet.

Considering that most of the households were already economically insecure prior

the earthquakes, it can be assumed that these coping strategies will impact

households extremely negatively. It will further deepen their vulnerability by

depleting their resources, increasing their indebtedness and weaken their ability to

pay for the most essential goods and social services.

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As per ward leaders’ ranking, the 5 mostly used coping strategies have been/will be:

labour migration of a male adult member of the household, borrow money from a

money lender or any other informal network, labour migration of a female adult

member of the household, use own savings and sell their remaining productive

assets.

As per women leaders’ ranking, the 5 mostly used coping strategies have been/will

be: use own savings, borrow money from relatives and friends, abour migration of

the head of household, of the male adult member and of a female adult member.

Recommendations

Contextual Background

The broad inaccessibility of Okhaldhunga VDCs and wards by car, 4x4 or trucks is to

be taken into account when planning future activities. Helicopters, tractors or porters

should be planned to enable delivery of items at ward level. Appropriate budget

should be allocated to any project and activities planned in Okhadhunga. In addition,

availability of helipads in the distribution should be verified in case helicopters are

envisaged. Lastly, the distribution point selection by the Programme team should be

based on information available beforehand.

Landslides are also very frequent in Nepal, and in Okhaldhunga in particular

considering its mountainous environment, making the pathways blocked for all kind

of vehicles. Furthermore, those might damage the road as well, especially after it has

rained. In other districts, transporters and ACTED Distribution Officers have already

encountered many difficulties in the field where tractors had to be pushed by

manpower to be able to pass on damaged roads.

Some areas are only accessible by foot, which requires including the necessary

walking time in Programme and M&E activities timeframe as well as accommodation,

trekking equipment for physical security and appropriate days of field allowances for

the staff.

Satellite (SAT) phones are an absolutely first necessity for all staff in Okhaldhunga as

network coverage might not be reliable in many parts of the mountain.

Staff should be provided with sleeping bags and flashlights when they have to go for

several days hiking in the mountains to reach a distribution point.

Very low levels of market accessibility for food, hygiene items or shelter material in

Okhaldhunga is important to keep in mind while planning and implementing

activities. Food distribution is appropriate in this context as many communities are

unable to access to markets to purchase food, and the most vulnerable households

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now need a short term and immediate solution to their food insecurity. Cash for

Work schemes in VDCs or wards where market areas have been destroyed or

damaged and where markets do not have the capacity to satisfy their consumers’

demands should be avoided. In those areas work against in-kind goods or direct

distributions should be systematically preferred until markets re-open on full

capacity, i.e. clients are able to purchase all basic goods there. ACTED understands

market accessibility as a market being safely accessible within half a days’ walk (one

way), and for basic food and NFI items to be available at this market.

Shelter

As shelter conditions in Okhaldhunga are still disastrous five months after the first

earthquake, shelter assistance remains a priority for most households who have been living

in damaged houses or makeshift shelters since the disasters. ACTED should prioritize shelter

assistance over other relief provision to increase shelter quality, resistance to earthquakes

and help people to live in conditions that respect their basic human dignity. AMEU would

therefore recommend the following:

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should prioritize the distribution of

winterized shelter kits that include CGI sheets, timber, toolkits, GI/Steel wires and

fixing kits including ropes and nails. Even though insulation material or blankets have

not been mentioned as priorities by ward and women leaders, they should also be

included in the shelter kit. Since five months have passed since the first earthquake,

NGOs should engage in the provision of sturdy and insulated shelter material before

the winter season comes, especially since Okhaldhunga VDCs are all in high altitude

and temperatures will rapidly fall.

Distribution of shelter material should systematically be combined with Build Back

Safer awareness sessions and training on how to erect earthquake-resilient shelters,

enabling beneficiaries to be well informed about the risks of some shelter materials

and the advantages of others, thus encouraging them to take ownership on their

own accommodation by re-building it themselves. These sessions should also target

women as training has been highly ranked in their list of priority needs. This might

also be explained by the fact - as per women and ward leaders reporting - that a high

proportion of households would resort to labor migration as a coping strategy (cf.

Coping Strategies); hence heads of households, i.e. adult males in majority would

leave the area to find work opportunities elsewhere, leaving women in charge of

reconstructing a permanent shelter in their VDC/ward of origin.

Cash for Work schemes or Cash Grants mechanisms should be established in order to

assist community members who might not have the financial means to employ a

Page | 18

skilled mason to erect a safe shelter as reported by more than half of the women

leaders (55.56%). The VDCs to target in priority for these schemes shall be Bhushinga,

Shreechaur, Khijifalate and Ragani.

Cash for Work schemes or Cash Grants have already been implemented or envisaged

by ACTED; however, AMEU would recommend bearing in mind that Cash Grants need

higher budgeting than Cash for Work. The two activities are not interchangeable in

terms of required funds as Cash for Work workers are given 80% of daily pay rate

while labour employed with Cash grants would require full remuneration.

The large percentage of women-headed and elderly-headed households should be

taken into account when programming activities as these households may face more

challenges in being economically self-sufficient as well as in accessing distribution

sites and transporting heavy relief material. Humanitarian and Development

Agencies should provide cash grants to those beneficiaries or directly hire porters for

door-to-door delivery to cover their transportation needs, especially if heavy material

such as CGI sheets (approximately 55 kilos a bundle) are distributed.

Non Food Items Even though it may be ranked lower than shelter in terms of priority, NFI assistance nevertheless remains critical. AMEU would therefore recommend the following:

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should prioritize NFI distributions in

parallel with shelter assistance in order to achieve and maintain SPHERE Standards in

Shelter and Non-Food items that represent together the right to housing enshrined in

International Human Rights Law.

The communities’ needs in terms of Non-Food Items are to be prioritized in

programming activities as those seem to have been neglected in the emergency

phase following both earthquakes.

Kitchen sets have been highly ranked by both ward leaders and women, which is

explained by the fact that households are often left with no choice but cooking in

unsanitary conditions (e.g. outside, close to dust, mud or animals). Items in kitchen

sets should include cooking pots / pans, recipients for food and boiled water and fuel

material.

Solar lamps should also be widely distributed in order to ensure proper and durable

house lighting in case of power cuts. This is also a crucial element of safeguarding

personal safety, especially in a context where open defecation is widely practiced.

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should provide households with water

filter and water containers/storage units for water collected for drinking purposes.

Water filters are considered as a more sustainable solution than purifying tablets.

Page | 19

This is especially crucial for women as they are generally in charge of collecting

water; having water storage would decrease the frequency of walking with heavy

burdens as they could purify non-drinking water available near their house.

Furthermore, having water storage at household level would help women in

maintaining their personal hygiene during their menstruation period.

Toolkits should always be included in/complement shelter kits.

Even though ACTED is aiming at transitioning from the emergency phase to early

recovery programmes, hygiene kits are still reported as high priority by both women

and ward leaders. Indeed, the market inaccessibility makes it difficult for community

members to purchase basic hygiene-related products. According to SPHERE

standards, hygiene maintenance is enable by the possession of one 10–20 liters

capacity water container for transportation per household, one 10–20 liters capacity

water container for storage, 250g of bathing soap per person, 200g of laundry soap

per person and acceptable material for menstrual hygiene, e.g. washable cotton

cloth or non-reusable sanitary pads depending on women’s habits and preferences.

In addition to these standards, ACTED minimum recommendations for hygiene kits

components are as following: shampoos, toothbrushes, large size toothpastes and a

bathing bucket.

Hygiene kits distributions should always be accompanied by Hygiene promotion

activities.

In order to maximize the quality of goods and services provided as well as the level of

satisfaction of beneficiaries about quality and quantity of items received,

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should involve potential beneficiaries and

local population in the decision-making process on what items should be distributed

to them based on helpfulness and capacity and willingness to use the items.

Particular attention should be given to the content of hygiene kits; especially women

should be involved in choosing what should be included in it. To this end, ACTED

should aim at organizing Focus Group Discussions with female community members

in VDCs it is planning to target for hygiene-related programmes before the start of

the activities and of the items procurements. Focus Group Discussions might be used

to foster an inclusive and participatory approach with the most vulnerable groups

amongst communities in Nepal, including women and girls and people with specific

needs, i.e. elderly, differently abled, lower castes, pregnant or breast-feeding women

or single mothers.

WASH

Drinking water and latrines, along with shelter and food, have been identified by

communities as one of the main priorities in Okhaldhunga. AMEU would therefore

recommend the following:

Page | 20

Gravity Water Supply Schemes are the main sources of drinking water for

Okhaldhunga. Due to damages induced by the earthquakes, nine out of ten

individuals have been left with no or limited access to water. Impact on women and

girls, particularly, has been significant. Thus Humanitarian and Development

Agencies should prioritize the distribution of material for rebuilding/rehabilitating

water points. This should most likely include cement and/or concrete for the tank,

HDP (plastic) pipes and source protection. Either cash could be provided to

households to allow them to buy the material directly, or material could be provided

should it be unavailable in the local markets. Cash for Work with local plumbers

could also be implemented to rehabilitate damaged gravity water supply schemes or

Cash Grants could be given to beneficiaries for them to directly hire local plumbers.

ACTED is already aiming at establishing contracts with and supporting Water Users

Associations, i.e. local committees that have been formed for the purpose of

rehabilitating their damaged water points in their village.

Household latrines are generally very important to respect women and girls’ dignity

and safety. However, as half of the population in the 15 VDCs did not have household

latrines before, community latrines might be a culturally appropriate option if such

programmes are to be implemented in Okhaldhunga. Focus Group Discussions with

community members, especially targeting women, could be held to determine what

would be their preference. Community latrines, in any case, should be gender-

disaggregated, well-lighted, lockable and provided with latrines kits composed of

appropriate anal cleansing material (in Nepal, bucket and water), disposals for

menstruation pads, and functioning hand-washing system with soap.

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should distribute material for rehabilitating

latrines. Simple pit latrines or improved ventilated pit latrines can be considered as a

short- and medium-term alternative to septic tank latrines. Materials should include

CGI sheets or timber frame for the superstructure, ventilation pipes, cement for the

pit, concrete or bricks and mud for the foundation, reinforced concrete or bamboo

covered with a layer of mud and cement mortar for the floor, cement and sand for

the squat hole (footrests could also be added) and a wood lid to prevent odours to

spread and flies, mosquitoes and other insects from breeding in the excreta and

transmit diarrheal diseases when entering in contact with food. Either cash could be

provided to households to allow them to buy the material directly, or material could

be provided should it be unavailable in the local markets. Local masons and plumbers

could be trained by Agricultural staff and engineers. Cash Grants could be given to

beneficiaries for them to directly hire local masons and plumbers.

As Open Defecation has been reported as common practice in Okhaldhunga, hygiene

promotion sessions should systematically be organized in the villages. It should

include not only basic key messages, but rather cover quite extensively certain

subjects such as the risks posed by open defecation on human health and on the

Page | 21

environment, the six steps to wash hands properly in order to eliminate all germs and

bacteria and all critical times to wash hands (including before eating, cooking,

feeding someone else such as a baby or a disabled person, after defecating, coughing

and after changing a baby’s diaper). Moreover, the use of each component of the

hygiene kit distributed should be explained. Given the low levels of literacy in rural

areas of Nepal, user-friendly posters and leaflets with images and limited text should

be designed to help community members understanding all messages.

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should conduct follow up activities on

behavioral change after the training is held. Yet these practices might be induced by

lack of appropriate infrastructure and equipment, thus accent shall be put on

rehabilitating or building household latrines with functioning hand-washing system.

At least half of hygiene promoters should be female to allow women to talk more

freely about menstruation and other intimate issues in case they feel the need.

Gender-disaggregated hygiene-related Focus Group Discussions and training sessions

should be organized in order to encourage women to participate and speak up freely,

hence making use of the trainings and FGD mechanisms to the fullest extent.

Food Security

High levels of food insecurity and nutritional needs have been observed in the 15 VDCs

assessed by ACTED in Okhaldhunga. Households’ food security levels have been severely

affected, which might have led to nutritional deficits in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

This is especially the case as many households reported to be unable to access a market to

purchase food; this is confirming, four months later, the findings of the Food Security Cluster

Report on the food security impact of the 2015 earthquake made in May 2015 regarding

markets still being largely closed in remote mountainous areas4.

Further, given the large proportion of households headed by an elderly person and by

women as well, many households might not be able to partake in income-generating or food

production activities in the field. Hence food relief remains one of the top three priorities

identified by communities. AMEU would therefore recommend the following:

In the short term, in order to cover basic needs of the population affected by the

earthquakes, Humanitarian and Development Agencies should distribute food items.

Considering that food assistance has been low in the district and that there is a very

4 Food Security Cluster Report on the food security impact of the 2015 earthquake, May 2015,

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/150527_food_cluster_wfp_food_security_impact.pdf

Page | 22

limited presence of international relief organisations in the district5, covering basic

food and nutritional needs of Okhaldhunga population is a very urgent matter.

Food basket recommendations made by the Food Security Cluster in Nepal include

rice, lentils, oil (or ghee) and iodized salt. However, these recommendations target

Kathmandu Valley in particular. According to Okhaldhunga communities, food items

should include, besides rice, dahl, oil and salt, food for young infant and children,

sugar and vegetables. Vegetable seeds could be provided to ensure a longer-term

maintenance of food security levels. AMEU also recommends including food meeting

the specific nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women.

While food aid seems to be an important immediate path to help people to keep

proper levels of nutrition and food diversity in their diets and achieve satisfactory

Food Consumption Score6 reflecting the energy and nutrient intake by household

members, the risk of dependence on external aid should be taken into account when

programming. It is acceptable, and even necessary, to use food distributions to

ensure short-term food security; however, means of growing their own food should

be considered as a better alternative option in the medium and longer-term, for

example in the form of livelihood inputs / agricultural kits.

Livelihood

Supporting households to rebuild a sustainable livelihood is an essential step in helping them

regain self-sufficiency and decreasing potential dependence on external aid on the medium

and longer-term. Households are ready to re-start their agricultural activities in Okhaldhunga

and have remarkable resilience levels. AMEU would therefore recommend the following:

Livelihood Inputs could be distributed either on an unconditional basis or within a

Livelihood Inputs for Work scheme in order to assist people re-start, maintain and

increase their production levels. Seeds delivered should be those of highest priority

for the upcoming season, depending on the seasonal calendar. Specific varieties

should be approved by farmers and local agricultural specialists. According to ward

leaders, the following seeds are appropriate in Okhaldhunga: maize, millet/kodo,

potatoes, vegetables, spices and wheat. To the possible extent, seeds should be

procured locally after verification of quality of the supply systems in the district.

Toolkits could include spade or hoe, rake, sickle, a pair of work gloves, storage sacks

5 Nepal Earthquake Assessment Unit, Okhaldhunga District Profile, 19

th of August 2015,

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/District%20profile%20Okhaldhunga%2019%20August%20

2015.pdf 6 The frequency weighted diet diversity score or “Food consumption score” is a score calculated using the

frequency of consumption of different food groups consumed by a household during the 7 days before the

survey, http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/manual_guide_proced/wfp197216.pdf

Page | 23

and a Harvest Storage Unit with plastic sheeting to keep the harvest dry during the

monsoon and winter season.

Livelihood assistance, in order to cover existing gaps, should target in priority

Bushinga, Fediguth, Kalikadevi, Khijifalate, Patle, Ragani, Raniban, Rawadolu,

Shreechaur, Sisneri and Yasam as other VDCs have already received some kind of

agricultural assistance.

As per ward leaders ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of livelihoods are the

following: seeds, Agricultural training, livestock, tools and shelter for livestock.

As per women leaders ranking, the 5 most urgent needs in terms of livelihoods are

the following: Agricultural training, seeds, livestock, tools and shelter for livestock.

To provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for those engaged in agricultural

activities, Humanitarian and Development Agencies should provide Agricultural

training to men and women to empower them in terms of planting and harvesting

capacity, productivity and usage of tools. Agricultural training should especially

target women as they have reported it to be their most urgent need, which might be

explained by potential labor migration; since a significant proportion of adult men in

Okhaldhunga are planning to move to find new job opportunities, they might leave

the responsibility of the regular household livelihood activities to the adult women

household members.

To provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for those engaged in livestock

rearing activities, Humanitarian and Development Agencies should distribute shelter

for livestock – which could come in the form of timber for frame and tarps or CGI

sheets for cows, buffaloes, chicken and goats.

In Okhaldhunga, ACTED might obtain lists with names and contact details of landless

people from local government representatives to be included in our beneficiaries

lists. Those landless people are usually daily workforce involved in rural livelihood

activities, planting and harvesting on land owned by households registered in the

ward. However, selecting landless people for Livelihood activities might not be a

viable option as they might not be benefiting from the fruits of their work in the

field. Distribution of seeds, especially, is to be avoided. However, providing them

with permanent toolkits could ease their daily work while giving them Agricultural

training could increase their productivity in a climate-smart and resource efficient

manner, which might increase the value of their workforce on the market and help

them develop their organizational capacity for better individual or collective action

vis-à-vis the land owners.

Education

95.8% of the schools in the 15 assessed VDCs in OKhaldhunga have been severely damaged

or even fully destroyed by the earthquakes, which has negatively impacted the education of

Page | 24

thousands of children. Drop-outs due to lack of alternative should be a tremendous concern

for the aid community. Going back to school is a priority for children as it enables them to

‘go back to a normal life’ and build a brighter future for themselves. Furthermore, according

to UNICEF7, the longer children are out of school after a disaster, the less likely it is for them

to ever go back to the classroom. Girls’ education is of specific concern to ACTED; lack of

education reinforces the vicious circle of illiteracy, cultural and socio-economic barriers, lack

of access to resources, lack of equal opportunities and poverty. It is therefore crucial to

ensure that schools are able to resume their activities as soon as possible. While providing

free public education is the responsibility of the Nepalese government, Humanitarian and

Development Agencies could help protecting children’s right to education by concentrating

its efforts on infrastructure rehabilitation. AMEU would therefore recommend the following:

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should engage in school infrastructure

rehabilitation, including WASH programmes such as rehabilitation of damaged

latrines. Local masons and plumbers could be trained by Agricultural staff and

engineers. Cash Grants could be given to beneficiaries for them to directly hire local

masons and plumbers.

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should build gender-separated latrines in

schools to ensure safety and privacy of girls.

Humanitarian and Development Agencies should distribute school supplies,

including notebooks and other stationary to children as well as furniture to schools

such as tables, chairs, blackboards and chalk sticks or whiteboards and markers.

While re-building schools is the priority in terms of education, Humanitarian and

Development Agencies should not overlook the fact that construction takes time. In

the short-term period, provision of emergency material to improve the current

makeshift shelters where schools are operating such as CGI sheets, tents, tarps and

insulation materials would be of immense help to school teachers, especially since

the winter season is about to start.

Health

Considering the large number of casualties across Nepal following the earthquakes,

providing healthcare services and improving health facilities infrastructures remains a

priority in most VDCs, especially given the reported lack of staff compared to the high

number of admitted patients in health facilities. AMEU would therefore recommend the

following:

Humanitarian and Development Agencies could rehabilitate health facilities

infrastructures. Hygiene promotion could also be provided to health staff, as basic

7http://unicef.org.np/latest-updates/stories/2015/05/31/back-to-school-makes-back-to-normal-possible

Page | 25

hygiene practices may be overlooked when running activities in makeshift and

unconventional shelters.

Considering ACTED’s lack of medical expertise, distributing medicines is not

considered as a viable and fruitful option. However, AMEU would recommend

exploring the option of partnering with a local medical NGO to establish a first aid kit

- or getting it in kind from donors - that could be distributed to beneficiaries to

minimize the risks of not being physically able to reach the closest health facility. First

aid kits could accompany / complement hygiene kits and be composed of anti-

diarrheal medicines, painkillers, antiseptic gel for wounds and bandages.

Coping strategies and Protection

Labour migration is very likely to be resorted to as a shock-coping strategy by households in

Okhaldhunga. This represents a Protection issue as it could lead to forced labour, women

and child trafficking and even debt bondage, especially considering that taking loans from

money lenders have also been reported as a likely alternative for community members.

It is crucial to monitor the internal displacement movements within Okhaldhunga to

make sure human rights of migrants are being respected at all times, especially daily

workers and women and girls who might be forced into prostitution and other forms

of sexual or non-sexual exploitation.

Women-headed households already represent one quarter to one fifth of the

population in the 15 assessed VDCs in Okhaldhunga. A male adult member of the

household being forced into moving to find new employment opportunities might

increase this proportion. ACTED should crosscheck beneficiaries lists provided by the

GoN to ensure that the Programme team has been provided with the last

information available on demographics in each ward of the VDC.

It is essential that the aid community assists people in rebuilding their old livelihood

to reach former levels of self-reliance and resilience in order to avoid negative coping

strategies that might jeopardize their security and dignity. Engaging with informal

lenders might provoke a vicious circle of indebtedness and other consequences that

would compromise the economic viability of the households, including being forced

into debt bondage in case interest rates are too high compared to the financial

capacity of the indebted household.

Considering that most of the households were already economically insecure prior

the earthquakes, it can be assumed that these coping strategies will impact

households extremely negatively. It will further deepen their vulnerability by

depleting their resources, increasing their indebtedness and weaken their ability to

pay for the most essential goods and social services.

Page | 26

MAIN FINDINGS

Demographics

The total population for the 15 targeted VDCs is approximately 58,907 people for 10,565

households (see Table 1). Due to time constraints, most demographic data have not been

checked against official records. These estimations will thus be used to create statistics in

this report. The average household size is almost 6 members across all 15 VDCs.

Table 1. Population per VDC

Number of Households Total Population

Bhushinga 377 2,081

Fediguth 1,063 5,123

Jantarkhani 409 2,472

Kalikadevi 458 2,549

Khijifalate 827 4,767

Mulkharka 938 5,523

Palapu 1,058 5,602

Patle 829 4,418

Ragadeep 437 2,422

Ragani 868 4,732

Raniban 475 2,409

Rawadolu 399 2,410

Shreechaur 810 5,472

Sisneri 938 5,532

Yasam 679 3,395

Total 10,565 58,907

According to the ward leaders, 2,563 households are headed by a woman, which is higher

than the number provided by women. This represents a high proportion of women-headed

households across the 15 VDCs (almost one quarter of the population – 24.25%). According

to women’s estimations, there are 1943 women-headed households (18.4%),

38 in Bhushinga (10%)

184 in Fediguth (17%)

134 in Jantarkhani (32.8%)

124 in Kalikadevi (27%)

50 in Khijifalate (6%)

320 in Mulkharka (34.1%)

Page | 27

141 in Palapu (13.3%)

180 in Patle (21.8%)

161 in Ragadeep (36.8%)

121 in Ragani (13.9%)

59 in Raniban (12.4%)

75 in Rawadolu (18.8%)

85 in Shreechaur (10.5%)

201 in Sisneri (21.4%)

70 in Yasam (10.3%).

We can conclude that there is a significant proportion of women-headed households in all

assessed VDCs; in average, women-headed households represent one fifth to one quarter

of the total assessed population.

Almost half of the households are headed by an elderly member across all VDCs (47.3%).

Less than 0.2% of households assessed in all VDCs are headed by a child and 1.2% of head of

households are differently abled. Details on the number of households per caste can be

found in Table 2.

Table 2.1. Number of Households per Caste per VDC

Dalit Chhetri Sunwar Gurung Tamang Rai Newar Sherpa

Bhushinga 8 102 8 30 3 0 6 220

Fediguth 81 745 0 35 196 0 0 0

Jantarkhani 59 0 0 0 2 1 4 87

Kalikadevi 21 279 0 0 52 0 49 4

Khijifalate 29 2 200 3 312 0 44 234

Mulkharka 52 118 0 1 422 0 0 0

Palapu 129 25 183 0 1 0 118 0

Patle 45 81 43 0 123 0 1 473

Ragadeep 25 15 0 17 23 227 0 114

Ragani 57 135 134 0 88 0 240 94

Raniban 78 287 0 0 38 0 15 0

Rawadolu 28 204 44 41 31 0 3 32

Shreechaur 89 99 41 51 321 1 0 147

Sisneri 34 223 6 0 41 298 143 0

Yasam 35 455 27 0 35 4 64 2

Total 770 2,770 686 178 1,688 531 687 1,407

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Table 2.2. Number of Households per Caste per VDC

Brahaman

Other

(mostly Magar; also Bhujel, Majhi, Pahadi)

Bhushinga 0 0

Fediguth 1 5

Jantarkhani 0 256

Kalikadevi 20 33

Khijifalate 1 2

Mulkharka 57 288

Palapu 27 575

Patle 7 56

Ragadeep 0 16

Ragani 89 31

Raniban 53 4

Rawadolu 0 16

Shreechaur 49 12

Sisneri 66 127

Yasam 0 57

Total 370 1,478

Page | 29

Contextual Background

Damages caused by the earthquakes

While all ward leaders reported that their wards have been affected by both earthquakes,

two thirds consider that they caused similar damages. However, the 12th of May

earthquake was more devastating than the first one in April for 28.9% of the ward leaders.

Ward accessibility

In terms of accessibility, ward leaders were asked if their respective wards were linked to or

situated on the main road. Slightly more than one quarter answered positively. However,

among those, almost two thirds reported that road was not functional at the moment.

According to 81% of the ward leaders, these damaged roads could be repaired with

manpower.

Ward leaders were also asked about different means of transportation. Accessibility by car

and 4x4 and trucks prior the earthquakes was already very low (respectively 7.4% and

8.15%). Not even one third of the wards were accessible by truck (28.9%). Almost two

thirds of the ward leaders reported that their wards were already inaccessible before the

earthquakes, disregarding the mean of transportation (65.2%).

Accessibility following the earthquakes has thus not been much impacted in the sense that

the assessed VDCs were already poorly accessible by any vehicle before the earthquakes,

which poses a huge challenge in terms of relief distribution. Indeed, most of the wards in

Okhaldhunga are only accessible by foot (69.3% as of end of September 2015), which

implies several hours, sometimes several days of mountain trekking to reach a site.

Furthermore, trekking in Okhaldhunga can be extremely dangerous given the climate and

general conditions; monsoon, regular rain, landslides, fog and snow as well as lack of

network coverage make it difficult to ensure staff safety at all times. All staff should

always possess functional SAT phones.

Page | 30

Debris and rubble on mountain pathways due to collapsed houses

Page | 31

Market Accessibility

No food market in Bhushinga

One food market in Fediguth (ward 1)

No food market in Jantarkhani

No food market in Khalikadhevi

One food market in Khijifalate (ward 3)

Three food markets in Mulkharka (wards 3, 7 and 9)

Six food markets in Palapu (wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Two food markets in Patle (wards 1 and 2)

One food market in Ragadeep (ward 7)

No food market in Ragani

One food market in Raniban (ward 1)

No food market in Shreechaur

No food market in Sisneri

No food market in Yasam

In average, only 11.85% report to have a market accessible in their ward where they can

buy food stuffs. Main markets reported are as following:

Bushinga: none

Fediguth: Phalate Bhanjayang

Jantarkhani: Okhaldhunga Bazar, Patale, Solukhumbu

Kalikadevi: Ghodakhori, Palapu Bhanjayang

Khijifalate: Okhaldunga Bazar

Mulkharka: Ghurni, Kosha Haat, Phalate

Palapu: Palapu Bhanjayang, Nabalpur

Patle: Khijifalate, Talkot, Okhaldhunga, Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Ragadeep: Bildu Bazar, Talkot, Okhaldhunga, Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Shreechaur: Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Ragani: Bhamti Bandar

Raniban: Sagutar, Pokhari Bhanjayang

Rawadolu: Buktel Bazar

Sisneri: Ghurni , Manebhanjayang

Yasam: Sagutar

Even though the closest food markets are reported to have sufficient supplies to fulfill the

needs of its customers by 57.8% of the ward leaders, it leaves 42.2% of the population with

no access to basic necessary products in an appropriate quantity.92.6% report that they are

Page | 32

not accessible by road and are in average 10 kilometers away from their home. Moreover,

one third reports that it is not even accessible by foot.

90.4% report that they do not have a market where they can buy hygiene items in their

ward. 91.85% say that this market is not accessible by road; however, people can walk there

and find the basic products for daily hygiene maintenance according to 96.3% of the ward

leaders. Important to be noted is that, in average, the market is situated 10.3 kilometres

away from their home. Main markets for hygiene products are the same reported as for

food.

Markets where building materials are available are reported to be outside of the ward by

95.6% of the respondents; the average distance accounts for more than 15 kilometres. It is

accessible by road for approx. half of the wards, including Bhushinga, Fediguth, Khijifalate,

Ragani, Raniban, Rawadolu and Shreechaur. It is accessible by foot for 94.8% of the ward

leaders. 89.6% of ward leaders reported that the market for building material had the

capacity to fulfill the needs of households that wish to buy them.

Building materials are available in the same markets as mentioned before when asked about

food and hygiene items availability.

Shelter

Type of Housing

Ward leaders reported a total of 10,565 houses before the earthquakes, which matches the

number of households in the District.

Out of the 10,565 reported houses in the assessed VDCs in Okhaldhunga:

6,460 (61.1%) are mud and stone houses;

2129 (20.1%) are made of wood, mud and stones;

1,788 (16.9%) are mud and stone houses with CGI roofing;

188 (1.8%) are made of concrete stone walls with CGI roofing.

Mud and stones houses along with wood, mud and stones houses as well as mud and

stone houses with CGI roofing were the most popular type of houses across the fifteen

VDCs (98.1%) (see Figure 1 and Table 3).

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Figure 1: Housing types in Okhaldhunga

Table 3: Housing types in Okhaldhunga per VDC

Mud and

stones

Wood, mud

and stone

Mud and

stone walls

with CGI

roofing

Others

Bhushinga 99.5% NA 0.5% NA Fediguth 76.1% 2.4% 16.7% 4.8%

Jantarkhani 31.5% 42% 25.9% 0.6% Kalikadevi 59.6% 3.5% 36.9% NA Khijifalate 98.3% 0.7% 0.96% 0.04% Mulkharka 43.3% 4.9% 44.4% 7.4%

Palapu 41.1% 28.5% 30.3% 0.1% Patle 14% 77.2% 8.7% 0.1%

Ragadeep 31.1% 54% 14.9% NA Ragani 100% NA NA NA

Raniban 32.4% 37% 30.5% 0.1% Rawadolu 97% 0.25% 2.75% NA

Shreechaur 94.3% 1% 4.6% 0.1% Sisneri 72.6% 2.45% 18% 6.95% Yasam 16.8% 70.2% 13% NA

61% 20%

17%

1.90%

Stone and mud houses

Wood, Stone and mud houses

Stone and mud houses with CGIroofing

Others

Page | 34

Only 917 houses (8.7%) did not suffer any damage during the earthquake.

2674 (25.3%) were damaged but reportedly repairable.

4,065 (38.4%) were damaged beyond repair.

2,880 (27.2%) were fully destroyed or even collapsed during the earthquakes.

Almost two thirds of the houses are not repairable due to the high level of destruction

suffered during the earthquakes.

Table 4. Level of destruction per VDC

Houses damaged beyond repair or collapsed

Bhushinga 99.5% Fediguth 53.95%

Jantarkhani 23.71% Kalikadevi 51.5% Khijifalate 99% Mulkharka 40.1%

Palapu 23.7% Patle 73.9%

Ragadeep 43.2% Ragani 99.8%

Raniban 97.7% Rawadolu 96.7%

Shreechaur 98.8% Sisneri 33.9% Yasam 85.6%

Page | 35

Damaged houses in Okhaldhunga

Page | 36

Fully destroyed house in Okhaldhunga

Page | 37

Temporary shelter in tarps

Page | 38

Vulnerabilities of Type of Housing

Ward leaders were asked to rank the vulnerabilities of the different types of housing, from 1

– being the most vulnerable – to 3.

Mud and stone houses scored an average of 1, and were ranked in all VDCs by 98.5%

of the ward leaders. Mud and stone houses are therefore considered as one of the

most vulnerable to earthquake.

Mud, stone walls and CGI roofing houses scored an average of 2, and were ranked in

all VDCs by 99.25% of the ward leaders. Mud, stone walls and CGI roofing are

therefore also considered as prone to destruction and damages during an

earthquake.

Concrete stone walls with CGI roofing scored an average of 2.96% and were ranked

by 98.5% of the ward leaders.

Concrete blocks/bricks with CGI roofing scored an average of 2.6%; yet were ranked

only by 3.7% of the ward leaders.

Page | 39

Fully destroyed wood, mud and stone houses

Page | 40

Assistance Received

Almost two thirds of ward leaders reported that their wards received shelter assistance after

the first earthquake. This excludes all wards in Palapu, Ragadeep and Sisneri VDCs. However,

all wards in all assessed VDCs did receive shelter assistance after the second earthquake.

As detailed in Figure 2, all households received tarpaulins; the large majority of households

received only that (96.5%). It is important to note that 60% of the ward leaders reported

dissatisfaction about the quality of the tarpaulins received after the earthquakes.

77% of the ward leaders reported that they did receive shelter assistance from the GoN in

Okhaldhunga. However, as per previous findings, we can conclude that the GoN has

distributed emergency tarpaulins only and did not provide more sustainable shelter

solutions.

Local NGOs mentioned by ward leaders as having contributed to the relief assistance

include:

- Sahash (Raniban, Kalikadevi, Palapu, Fediguth, Khijifalate, Mulkharha, Sisneri)

- Saibaba (Yasam)

- Advantage Mountain Biking (Palapu)

- Kalikash (Palapu, Fediguth)

- Rawadolu Bhushinga Concern Society (Rawadolu, Bhushinga)

- Resque Nepal (Ragani)

- Lekhu Demba (Ragani, Khijifalate)

- Trekking Anjinshi (Khijifalate)

- Biraj Samaj (Jantarkhani)

- Old Magar Sangh (Jantarkhani)

- Kathmandu Ragadeep Samaj (Ragadeep)

- Sunkoshi Konki Samudayik (Sisneri)

- Bibekshil Nepal (Sisneri).

INGOs include UNICEF (Sisneri), Mission Hospital of Okhaldhunga (Patle), Birgo Henken

Federation (Ragadeep), Red Cross (Patle, Ragani, Palapu), SDC, BIM Life and WFP (Kalikadevi,

Yasam, Palapu).

Page | 41

Figure 2. Shelter Assistance per VDC

Shelter Needs of the Communities

About one tenth of the population still lives in their former undamaged house. 0.7% have

built a new house since the earthquakes. However, the large majority of households is still

living in undignified or safety endangering conditions, including in makeshift shelters with

tarpaulins (77.6%) or with salvaged materials from their previous homes (10.5%). Fifty

households (0.5%) are still in tents five months after the first earthquake.

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Tarpaulins only

Tarpaulins with ropes

CGI sheets

CGI sheets with insulation material

Shelter kits

Page | 42

Ward leaders were asked to rank the most urgent shelter items that the population would

need to receive, 1 being the most urgent and 5 the least.

CGI sheets are the most urgent material to be provided to people in Okhaldhunga.

Indeed, CGI sheets scored an average of 1.5 and were ranked in all VDCs by 98.5% of

the ward leaders.

Training on Build Back Safer techniques to learn how to build safe and more

resistant to earthquakes shelters were ranked as second priority need by ward

leaders. It scored an average of 2.37 and was ranked in all VDCs by 97% of the ward

leaders.

Assistance with building shelter comes in third position as priority need in

Okhaldhunga. It scored an average of 2.8, yet was mentioned only by 39% of the

ward leaders.

Ropes and nails are the fourth priority for ward leaders. They scored an average of

3.6 and were ranked by 78.5% of the ward leaders.

Timber for frame is the fifth priority for ward leaders. It scored an average of 3.7

and was ranked by 60% of ward leaders.

GI / Steel wires scored an average of 3.8 and were ranked by 45.1% of ward leaders.

Toolkits scored an average of 4.1 and were ranked in all VDCs by 22.2% of ward

leaders.

Insulation material scored an average of 4.1 and was ranked by 15.5% of ward

leaders.

Tarpaulins are not a priority anymore for people in need whose needs and

expectations are now based on the hope that they will be provided with more

sustainable and winterized shelter solutions.

Bamboo is not an alternative for shelter construction in Okhaldhunga.

Women’s Perspective on Shelter Needs

Women leaders were asked to rank the needs in terms of shelter assistance, as per women

and girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1

being the most urgent.

All Women Leaders ranked CGI sheets as the most urgent material to be provided

to people in Okhaldhunga. CGI sheets scored an average of 1.15, and were ranked by

100% of the women leaders. This result correlates with ward leaders’ answers, thus

further highlighting the urgency to distribute CGI sheets to Okhaldhunga’s

households.

Timber for frame scored 2.97 and was mentioned by 53.3% of the women leaders.

Timber for frame is the second priority for women.

Page | 43

Tool kits are the third priority for women. They scored an average of 3.26, and were

ranked by 82.96% of the women leaders.

Training for safer building scored an average of 3.36, and were ranked by 84.4% of

the women leaders. Training for safer building is the fourth priority for women.

GI / Steel wires are the fifth priority for women; they scored 3.5 and were

mentioned by 69.6% of women leaders in total.

Ropes and nails scored 3.6 and were mentioned by 54.8% of women leaders.

Bamboos scored 3.7; they were mentioned only by 11.1% of women leaders.

Bamboo is neither a local preference nor a sustainable solution in Okhaldhunga

given the climate and the winter season coming.

Insulation material scored 4.4; they were mentioned by 42.2% of the women leaders.

Tarpaulins or assistance with building shelter were not reported as priority needs by

women.

The hierarchy in shelter needs reported by women differs quite significantly from the one

mentioned by the ward leaders. While a consensus is reached on the necessity of urgently

providing CGI sheets to Okhaldhunga’s population, ward leaders’ perceptions focus more

on the fact that the communities have to gain improved and deeper knowledge on how to

build safe shelters and could be assisted by skilled workers in doing so. Women’s needs

revolve around more practical and short-term considerations, i.e. the needs for concrete

materials to be able to build their shelter themselves. In terms of shelter material,

additional to the CGIs, both ward leaders and women leaders reported to need timber for

frame and GI/Steel wires.

Almost all women leaders reported that community members had their own land on

which building a permanent house (97.98%). However, only half of them (55.56%) have

the financial means to pay for skilled labor to build their shelter. This, however, varies a

lot depending on the VDC: while all women leaders in Bhushinga and Shreechaur and a big

majority in Khijifalate and Ragani (respectively 88.9% and 77.8%) reported that they could

not pay someone to help erect their shelter, all women in Kalikadevi, Sisneri and Yasam

could. Furthermore, most women in Ragadeep, Palapu and Fediguth reported that they also

had the financial means. Other VDCs are equally divided on the question. Less than two

thirds are planning to rely on a relative for help in reconstructing their house. Among those

who are, 89.3% said that their relative could assist them no more than one or two weeks.

Except for three landless women in the sample, most of the respondents reported to

possess land, including approx. one third having 1 to 5 ropani, one third having 5 to 10

ropani, 15% having 10 to 15 ropani, and one fifth having more than 15 ropani.

Page | 44

Table 5. Measurement Converter Table

Ropani and Ana are customary measurement units in Nepal

Ropani Ana M 2

1 16 500 (approx.)

1 31.8 (approx.)

In average, 5 anas are needed to build a house, meaning all landowning respondents possess

sufficient land for the construction of a permanent house.

Wood is the most common shelter material in Okhaldhunga according to women leaders

(94%), followed by stones (91.85%), CGI sheets (77.8%), mud (71.85%) and bamboos

(69.3%).

Stones can be easily provided by community members themselves (98.5%). Similarly,

78.5% reported to be able to find labor to assist them, 74.8% could provide mud and

72.6% could provide wood.

Only 60% can provide bamboo. It seems not to be available in Bhushinga and Khijifalate

and Ragani and difficult to access in Rawadolu.

80% do not have access to CGI sheets or do not have the financial capacity to buy them in

the market; considering the high need and common use of this construction material in

the area, CGI sheets are an important priority for communities in Okhaldhunga.

Most of the women in Khijifalate, Ragani, Shreechaur and Rawadolu also reported to use

iron rods and cement.

Sand is also commonly used, especially in Bhushinga, Khijifalate, Ragani, Shreechaur and

Kalikadevi.

Bricks and concrete are not commonly used.

Page | 45

Non-Food Items

While access to durable shelter may prevail over other priorities, non-food items (NFI) needs

also remain dire.

Assistance Received

When asked if people received any assistance other than shelter, ward leaders responded

that:

62.8% received bedding equipment;

18.4% received hygiene kits;

13.6% received kitchen sets;

3.6% of households received toolkits;

None received any solar lamp.

Non-Food Items assistance coverage has been very low in Okhaldhunga. Some of the NFI-

related assistance has been provided by the Nepali government (45.9%). The same local and

international NGOs mentioned above as having been providing shelter assistance have been

active in distributing Non-Food-Items to the population.

More than two thirds are not satisfied with the quality of the hygiene kit and other non-

food-items they received.

NFI Needs of the Communities

Ward leaders were also a list of Non-food items and asked to rank the most urgent Non

Food Items that the population would need to receive, 1 being the most urgent and 5 the

least.

Kitchen sets scored 1.9 and were ranked in all VDCs by 91.8%. Kitchen sets are the

first priority for the communities in Okhaldhunga.

Solar lamps were ranked in all VDCs by 76.3% of ward leaders and scored an average

of 1.78. Solar lamps come in second position in the ward leaders’ priority list.

Toolkits are third priority need for ward leaders; they scored 1.86 and were ranked

by 43.7% of ward leaders.

Hygiene kits scored 2.4 and were ranked by 73.3% of ward leaders.

Bedding scored 2.15 and was ranked by only 14% of ward leaders.

Page | 46

Women’s Perspective on NFI Needs

Women leaders were asked to rank the needs in terms of NFI assistance, as per women and

girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being

the most urgent.

Kitchen sets scored an average of 1.6, and were mentioned in all VDCs by 99.25% of

the women leaders (only one did not rank kitchen sets). Kitchen sets are thus the

first priority according to women leaders for women and girls to receive as relief

items.

Solar lamps scored an average of 2.8 and were mentioned in all VDCs by 70.3% of the

women leaders. Solar lamps can then be considered as the second priority as per

women leaders recommendations.

Hygiene kits scored an average of 3.3 and were mentioned in all VDCs by 80% of

women leaders. Hygiene kits are the third priority for women.

Water storage scored an average 3.5 and was mentioned in all VDCs by 94.8% of

women leaders. Water storage is the fourth priority for women.

Toolkits scored 3.5 and were mentioned in all VDCs by 72.6% of women leaders.

Toolkits are the fifth priority for women.

Bedding scored an average of 3.5 and was mentioned in all VDCs by 54% of women

leaders.

Menstrual sanitary pads and related items scored an average of 3.6 but were

mentioned by only 28.9% of the women leaders.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Main Sources of Drinking Water

Gravity water supply schemes are the most common source of drinking water, with a total

of 187 schemes reported to cover water needs of 9,515 households (90% of all population

in assessed VDCs). In average, one gravity water supply scheme provides water to 50

households. Details per VDC are shown in Table 3.

One tenth of the population uses spring / streams as a water source. In average, 43

households used a single spring / stream before the earthquake.

Page | 47

Table 6. Number of households per Gravity Water Supply Scheme

VDCs Number of Households per Gravity Water Supply Scheme

Bhushinga 1 scheme/42 households

Fediguth 1 scheme/19 households

Jantarkhani 1 scheme/37 households

Kalikadevi 1 scheme/40 households

Khijifalate 1 scheme/57 households

Mulkharka 1 scheme/93 households

Palapu 1 scheme/151 households

Patle 1 scheme/92 households

Ragadeep 1 scheme/40 households

Ragani 1 scheme/46 households

Raniban 1 scheme/29 households

Rawadolu 1 scheme/44 households

Shreechaur 1 scheme/62 households

Sisneri 1 scheme/84 households

Yasam 1 scheme/60 households

Damages to Water Sources8

142 gravity water supply schemes have been reported damaged by the ward leaders, adding

up to 75.9% of total gravity water supply schemes, yet they remain functional. 35 others

have been completely destroyed by the earthquakes. 24 springs/streams are also reported

having been damaged, which represents 92.3% of the springs functioning before the

earthquakes.

9,857 households have thus been left with no or limited access to drinking water after the

earthquakes – 93.3% of the assessed population (see Figure 3).

377 households in Bhushinga (100%)

676 in Fediguth (63.6%)

406 in Jantarkhani (99.3%)

382 in Kalikadevi (83.4%)

827 in Khijifalate (100%)

908 in Mulkharka (96.8%)

1058 in Palapu (100%)

8 See Annexes 2 and 3

Page | 48

829 in Patle (100%)

423 in Ragadeep (96.8%)

868 in Ragani (99.9%).

379 in Raniban (79.8%)

399 in Rawadolu (100%)

810 in Shreechaur (100%)

938 in Sisneri (100%)

577 in Yasam (85%).

Figure 3: Safe Drinking Water availability per VDC

According to 89.6% of the respondents, HDP (plastic) pipes were used for their gravity water

supply schemes. 77.8% have seen their water source damaged because of the landslides

occurring during the monsoon season and whose frequency has been made higher by the

recent earthquakes that made the mountains’ faces more prone to crumbling. According to

71.1% of the ward leaders, water tanks have also been damaged by the earthquakes, making

it more difficult, or even impossible, to store big amounts safe drinking water for a longer

period. For almost two thirds, the water source has been shifted to another place.

Women’s Perspective on Damages to Water Sources

When asked about the person in charge of water collection for domestic purposes in their

wards, 88.9% of women leaders responded that collecting water was adult women’s

responsibility, yet 61.5% said that adult men were also in charge. Children generally do not

collect water, irrespective of their gender.

More than two thirds of the women respondents (73.3%) reported that their usual water

source had been damaged by the earthquakes, including 100% in Fediguth and Raniban. For

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Bhusinga

Jantarkhani

Khijifalate

Palapu

Ragadeep

Raniban

Shreechaur

Yasam

Page | 49

those VDCs where water source has been damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes, the

closest water source is now almost 2 kilometres away from their houses.

Impact on women and girls has been tremendous in Okhadhunga; all women except one

report that daily life and activities have been affected by the lack of safe access to water.

One third does not have access to a water source at all; 60% saw their domestic workload

increase. More than half have to wait longer to collect water since more community

members than before are using one single water point. In parallel, 43.7% report an increased

distance since they have to go to another water source farer from their home. Almost half of

them responded that they restricted their water consumption to drinking and bathing

purposes only; this includes all women in Fediguth and Raniban, the two VDCs where water

points have been completely damaged by the earthquakes.

WASH Needs of the Communities

Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs of their community in terms of WASH assistance.

They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 3 – with 1 being the most

urgent to make the water schemes functioning again.

Cement and / or concrete for the tanks are the most urgent material needed to

rehabilitate their water points. They scored an average of 1.8 and were ranked in all

VDCs by 97.8% of ward leaders.

HDP pipes are the second most urgent material needed to rehabilitate water

points. They scored an average of 1.9 and were reported in all VDCs by 97.8% of

ward leaders.

Source protection is reported as third priority for water point rehabilitation since it

scored an average of 2.3 and was ranked in all VDCs by 81.5% of ward leaders.

GI pipes scored an average of 2.15; they were ranked by 24.4% of ward leaders only.

Latrines and Hygiene Practices

Prior to the earthquakes, one third of all households had septic tank latrines in all VDCs,

17% had pit latrines, 2.1 % had flush latrines. Almost half of the households in Okhaldhunga

had no latrine at all (47.4%). As a result, 71.1% of ward leaders affirmed that open

defecation was common practice for those who did not have latrines before. Only 6.7%

used to use public latrines; 71.1% would share latrines with other households.

Following the earthquakes, access to latrines has not been highly impacted. However,

access to latrines was an issue before the earthquakes; half of the assessed population still

Page | 50

has no access to latrines. The percentage of households possessing septic tank latrines falls

down from 33.5% to 27%. The percentage of households using temporary pit latrines goes

up to 21.3%. Some flush latrines have been destroyed since only 1.5% of households are still

using them.

Open defecation is reported as a solution by 88.9% of ward leaders for those who do not

have access to latrines. 82.2% reported that community members are sharing latrines

between several households. In addition, public latrines are now more commonly used

according to 28.9% of the ward leaders.

Washing hands after defecation and prior eating and cooking is not practiced by community

members according to one fifth of the ward leaders. While all ward leaders in Fediguth,

Jantarkhani, Kalikadevi, Mulkharka, Palapu, Patle, Ragadeep, Raniban, Sisneri and Yasam

report that hand washing is commo practice for community members, this is not so the case

in Shreechaur (only 11.1% positive answers), Rawadolu (22.2%), Khijifalate (33.3%), Ragani

(44.4%) and Bhushinga (66.7%).

While 97% of women leaders reported that women and girls used private latrines prior to

the earthquakes, 7.4% also used to share latrines between households. Public latrines

were widely used in Fediguth but not in other VDCs. Open defecation was a practice used

by 6.7% of the women, including an alarming 66.7% in Fediguth.

Private latrines do not seem to have been largely affected as 94.8% reported to still be

using private latrines after the earthquakes. Similarly, the proportion using shared latrines

has not changed. Open defecation practice has slightly increased, going up to 8.15% of the

women, still including two thirds of women in Fediguth but one third in Ranigan as well.

Fediguth and Ranigan are the two VDCs where water sources have been fully damaged;

the unavailability of water could explain the fact that women are resorting to outside

defecation.

Food Security

Assistance Received

73% (7,710 households across VDCs) received rice.

19.4% (2,046 households) received sugar and salt.

Only 16.7% of all households received lentils.

16% (1,685 households) received oils and fats.

8% received food for infant and young children.

Details on food relief received per VDC can be found in Figure 4.1 and 4.2.

Page | 51

Figure 4.1: Food relief received per VDC

Figure 4.2: Food relief received per VDC

56.9% of the respondent ward leaders who did receive food assistance reported that the

food basket distributed would last less than a week. 21.55% estimate that it would last a

week only. Thus households in Okhaldhunga are in dire need of food assistance.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Rice

Lentils

Meat

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Oil and fats

Tea and spices

Sugar and salt

Food for infant andyoung children

Page | 52

Only 42.2% of the ward leaders reported that the food relief effort had been made by the

government itself. While this includes all wards in Khijifalate, Ragani and Shreechaur and

88.9% of the wards in Sisneri, none of the wards in Kalikadevi, Palapu, Ragadeep, Rawadolu

and yasam received food aid from the Nepalese authorities after the earthquakes.

Sahash Nepal, once again, is reported as being very active in Okhaldhunga and having provided food aid to the people in the district. Similarly, Saibaba and Lekhu Demba, Rawadolu Bhusinga Concern Society are again mentioned. H.H.E.S.S. (Himalayan Health

and Environmental Service Solukhumbu) is also reported as having distributed in Bhushinga VDC.

The same INGOs as before are reported by ward leaders as having been engaged in food aid

in the district.

Food Needs of the Communities

Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs of their community in terms of food relief. They

were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1 being the most urgent.

Rice scored an average of 1.1, and was ranked in all VDCs by all ward leaders. Rice is

the most urgent need in terms of food.

Lentils (dhal) ranked an average of 2.8, and were ranked in all VDCs by 88.9% of the

ward leaders. Lentils can thus be considered as second priority.

Oils/fats scored an average of 3.1, and were ranked by 89.6% of the ward leaders.

Oils and fats are third priority.

Sugar and salt scored an average of 3.4, and were ranked in all VDCs by 90.4% of the

ward leaders. Sugar and salt are fourth priority.

Food for young children and infant scored an average of 4.2, and was ranked by

79.25% of the ward leaders. Food for young children can be considered as fifth

priority given the scale of ward leaders having ranked it.

Meat and fish scored an average of 2.8 and were ranked by only 7.4% of all ward

leaders.

Vegetables scored an average of 3.5, and were ranked by only 5.9% of all ward

leaders.

Tea and spices scored an average of 4.2, and were ranked by 29.6% of the ward

leaders.

Fruit scored 3.9 and were only mentioned in half of the VDCs by only 9.6% of the

ward leaders.

Eggs scored 4 and were ranked by only one ward leader.

Page | 53

Women’s Perspective on Food Needs

Women leaders were asked to rank the needs in terms of food relief, as per women and

girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1

being the most urgent.

Rice scored an average of 1.4, and was ranked in all VDCs by 99.25% of the women

leaders (all except one).

Lentils/dhal scored an average of 2.5, and were ranked by 65.2% of the women

leaders. Lentils are thus the second priority for women.

Food for young children and infant scored an average of 2.9, and was ranked in all

VDCs except Jantarkhani by 55.5% of the women leaders. Food for young children

and infant is third priority for women.

Oils/fats scored an average of 3.3, and were ranked by an average of 70.4% of the

women leaders. Oils and fats are thus fourth priority for women.

Vegetables scored an average of 2.7, and were ranked by only 32.6% of the women

leaders. Vegetables are then fifth priority for women.

Sugar and salt scored an average of 4.17, and were ranked in all VDCs by 77.8% of the

women leaders.

Fruits scored an average of 3.26, and were ranked by 19.3% of the women leaders

only.

Tea and spices scored an average of 4.2 , and were ranked by 51.1% of the women

leaders.

Meat and fish scored an average of 3.6, and were ranked by only 20% of the women

leaders.

Eggs scored an average of 3.8, and were ranked by 8.9% of the women leaders only.

Page | 54

Livelihoods

Main Livelihoods

Households’ main livelihoods in Okhaldhunga revolve around subsistence agriculture, with

most households combining more than one activity. Hence following percentages are

overlapping and include double counting.

100% of the households rely on crop cultivation (10,565 households).

98.3% rear livestock (10,385 households).

0.1% report that households also run agro-businesses such as restaurants or

vegetable shops (13 households).

3.4% report that households have a non-agro business such as a small clothing shop

(359 households).

10.2% are employed by the GoN (1,077 households).

5.7% work in services and tourism, including touristic guides and sherpas (605

households) (see Figure 5).

Figure 5: Main Livelihoods in Okhaldhunga

As per ward leaders’ estimations, all households in the assessed VDCs in Okhaldhunga rely on agriculture as a main source of income. 9.4% lost their agricultural land during the earthquakes.

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Cropagriculture

Livestockrearing

Governmentjob

Services Non-agrobusiness

Page | 55

2.6% have lost their harvest for this season due to the earthquakes.

12% have lost their agricultural inputs (e.g. tools, seeds, storage facilities) for this

season due to the earthquakes.

As per ward leaders’ estimations, 10,385 households in the assessed VDCs in Okhaldhunga

have livestock rearing as a main source of income, which represents 98.3% of

Okhadhunga’s households9.

2.2% have lost livestock during the earthquakes.

Less than 1% has lost access to grazing land due to the earthquakes.

Crop agriculture

Maize is cultivated by 94% of the population for household consumption. Only 5%

report that households also sell maize to have an additional source of income.

Millet/kodo is widely cultivated in Okhaldhunga as reported by three quarters of the

ward leaders.

Potatoes are cultivated for household by 71.1% of the population in Okhaldhunga.

Almost one fifth of respondents said that potatoes were cultivated for both

household consumption and income generation in Okhaldhunga; it mostly includes

wards from Jantarkhani and Patle and some wards in Fediguth, Ragani, Khijifalate,

Mulkharka, Sisneri, Bhushinga and Rawadolu. Less than one tenth of the population

does not cultivate rice.

69% of the respondents said that communities grow vegetables for household

consumption, including all wards in Bhushinga, Jantarkhani, Patle, Ragadeep,

Rawadolu and Shreechaur and 80% of the wards in Mulkharka, Ragani and Sisneri.

Only 2% also sell their own vegetables in the market. The remaining 29% do not

cultivate vegetables in Okhaldhunga.

Cultivation of spices in Okhaldhunga varies a lot from one VDC to another; while they

are widely cultivated in Kalikadevi, Khijifalate, Raniban, Shreechaur, Yasam (100%),

Palapu, Ragani (88.9%), Rawadolu, Fediguth (77.8%), Bhushinga (66.7%) and

Jantarkhani (55.6%), they are not cultivated at all in Mulkharka, Patle, Ragadeep and

Sisneri.

57% report that households cultivate wheat for household consumption; wheat is

not so much or not at all cultivated in Kalikadevi, Palapu, Raniban and Sisneri as per

ward leaders’ estimations.

Rice is cultivated for household consumption by approx. half of the population only,

including in Fediguth, Kalikadevi, Mulkharka, Palapu, Ragadeep, Ragani, Raniban,

Rawadolu, Shreechaur and Sisneri and Yasam. Rice is not cultivated in Bhushinga,

9 We observe that there is some double counting - many households have reported two different activities as their

main source of income. These overlaps might be explained by the local context since in Nepal, it is very current

to have both agricultural and livestock activities at the same time.

Page | 56

Jantarkhani, Khijifalate and Patle. Only two ward leaders reported that community

members sell their surpluses in the market.

Half of the respondents say communities in their ward cultivate legums for

household consumption. Legums are generally or not at all cultivated in Jantarkhani,

Mulkharka, Ragadeep and Sisneri.

Barley is cultivated by only one quarter of the population in average – only for

personal consumption, mostly in Ragani and Rawadolu.

Oil crops are cultivated by less than one third of the population, mostly in Fediguth

(88.9%), Shreechaur (88.9%) and Khijifalate (77.8%).

Sugarcane is almost not cultivated in Okhadhunga.

Maize, millet / kodo, potatoes, vegetables, spices and wheat are the most cultivated crops

in Okhaldhunga. All these crops are mostly used for household’s consumption. Households

do not seem to have sufficient production levels to be able to sell surplus on the market as

a source of income.

Plantation and harvesting time

See tables below.

Page | 57

Table 7.1. Planting calendar in Okhaldhunga

January

February March April May June July August September October November December

Maize

X X

Millet /

kodo

X X

Potatoes

X X X X

Vegetables

(depending

on type

and VDC)

x x x x x x x

Spices

x x

Wheat

x x x

Rice

x x

Page | 58

Table 7.2. Harvesting calendar in Okhaldhunga

January

February March April May June July August September October November December

Maize

X X

Millet /

kodo

X X

Potatoes

X X X X

Vegetables

x x x x x x x x

Spices

x

x x x x

Wheat

x x x x

Rice

x x x

Page | 59

Livestock rearing

All ward leaders reported that cows and buffaloes are reared in their ward. 59.3%

rear cows and buffaloes for household consumption, including in all wards in

Jantarkhani, Rawadolu and Sisneri and most of the wards in Bhushinga, Ragadeep,

Ragani and Raniban; 39.3% report to use their cows and buffaloes for income as well.

99.3% of the ward leaders reported that chicken are reared in their ward; while less

than half rear chicken for household consumption, 51.8% rear it for income

generation as well.

96.7% rear goats; according to ward leaders, 38% rear for household consumption,

7% for income generation and 55% for both purposes.

Pigs are reared for household consumption by almost half of the assessed population

(46.7). This includes all wards in Palapu; yet none in Sisneri.

Sheeps are usually not reared in Okhadhunga (only 7% of the ward leaders

responded positively).

Livestock rearing, contrary to agriculture, is, to some extent, a source of income for

households in Okhaldhunga.

Women’s perspective on Livelihood

96% of women have crop agriculture as a main livelihood.

91% in Bhushinga

98% in Fediguth

94% in Jantarkhani

98.9% in Kalikadevi

97.8% in Khijifalate

95.7% in Mulkharka

98.8% in Palapu

97.3% in Patle

97.1% in Ragadeep

97% in Ragani

98% in Raniban

87.2% in Rawadolu

99.7% in Shreechaur

97% in Sisneri

97.9% in Yasam

Page | 60

95.3% also report that they have livestock rearing as a main livelihood, which includes

double counting – some households consider both crop agriculture and livestock rearing as

their main livelihood without distinction).

82.2% in Bhushinga

98.2% in Fediguth

93.9% in Jantarkhani

98.9% in Kalikadevi

92.4% in Khijifalate

95.7% in Mulkharka

98.8% in Palapu

97.3% in Patle

97.1% in Ragadeep

95.7% in Ragani

98.1% in Raniban

86.7% in Rawadolu

99.3% in Shreechaur

97% in Sisneri

97.8% in Yasam

No other livelihood is reported in Okhaldhunga – or they represent a very marginal minority.

Division of Labour

Three quarters of ward leaders said that both adult women and men were in charge of

conducting pre-harvest activities (including plantation, cultivation, irrigation and daily

maintenance). 100% of ward leaders in Ragani shared that it was solely the responsibility of

adult women; 88.9% in Shreechaur, 77.8% in Khijifalate and in Rawadolu said the same

thing. Decisions are made in common, men and women together, as reported by 99.3% of

ward leaders.

For 75% of ward leaders, both adult women and men are in charge of harvesting; however,

Ragani, Shreechaur and Khijifalate stand as exceptions since adult men are reported to be in

charge of harvesting crops there. Decisions are made in common, men and women together,

as reported by 99.3% of ward leaders.

Half of the ward leaders said that both adult women and men are in charge of post-

production activities such as processing and selling products; the other half is divided

between adult men (31%, including all wards in Kalikadevi, Raniban and Yasam), adult

women (18.5%) and to a lesser extent boys under 18 (0.74%). Decisions are made in

common, men and women together, as reported by 100% of ward leaders.

Page | 61

For all activities regarding livelihood, women and men make decisions together.

Table 8. Division of Labour in Agriculture

In charge of (conducting) In charge of decision-making

Pre-Harvest

Bhusinga

Fediguth Jantarkhani Kalikadevi Mulkharka

Palapu Patle

Ragadeep Raniban Sisneri Yasam

Khijifalate

Ragani

Rawadolu

Shreechaur

All VDCs

Harvest

Bhusinga Fediguth

Jantarkhani Kalikadevi Mulkharka

Palapu Patle

Ragadeep Raniban

Rawadolu Sisneri Yasam

Khijifalate

Ragani

Shreechaur

All VDCs

Page | 62

Post-

production

activities

Bhusinga Fediguth

Jantarkhani Mulkharka

Patle Ragadeep

Sisneri

Kalikadevi

Palapu

Raniban

Yasam

Khijifalate

Ragani

Shreechaur

All VDCs

100% of ward leaders said that adult women were in charge of livestock care; adult men are

also participating according to 98.5% of the ward leaders. 39.3% and 37.8% also mentioned

that girls and boys below sixteen take care of livestock as well. Both men and women are in

charge of taking decisions about livestock care.

94.8% report that men are in charge of selling livestock products in the market; yet 79.3%

report that women are also in charge. Decisions are made together, men and women.

Table 9. Division of Labour in Livestock Rearing

In charge of (conducting) In charge of decision-

making

Livestock

care

All VDCs

All VDCs

Selling

livestock

produce

Bushinga

Fediguth

Jantarkhani

Kalikadevi

Khijifalate

Mulkharka

Palapu

Patle

Ragadeep

Raniban

Sisneri

Yasam

Ragani

Shreechaur

Rawadolu

All VDCs

Page | 63

Women’s perspective on Division of Labour

While 75% of female respondents asserted that the adult male of the family is the main

provider for the household, one quarter said that women were bringing the main source of

income to their household. In average, women contribute to almost one third of the

income for their family.

68.1% report that men are in charge of running businesses. However, 77.8% of women leaders in Jantarkhani and Sisneri reported that women were in charge of running business activities. Regarding decision-making on business activities, 54.8% report that adult men are in charge. Interestingly, 100% of women leaders in Jantarkhani reported that women were in charge of making decisions on business activities as well as 88.9% in Kalikadevi and Sisneri. 94.8% of women take responsibility for pre-harvest activities and 91.85% reported to be involved in the decision-making process for these activities. 94.07% are in charge of harvesting and 97.8% of them reported to be involved in the decision-making process. Less than half of the women respondents (48.15%) reported that they take part in post-production activities. However, 79.3% reported to be able to make decisions on sales even if they do not conduct them, including all women in Bhushinga, Jantarkhani, Khijifalate, Mulkharka, Patle, Ragadeep, Ragani, Rawadolu, Shreechaur and Sisneri. While all women except one reported to take care of livestock, the percentage falls to 72.6% when it comes to actually selling products from their livestock. However, this remains a relatively high number, which includes 100% of respondent women in Jantarkhani and Patle. 94.8% report to participate in the discussion when important decisions have to be made on livestock care; 77% are also involved in making decisions about livestock products sales. 98.5% of women reported to be ready to restart sustaining their livelihood, including agricultural activities and livestock rearing. Activities aiming at rebuilding sustainable livelihood opportunities for people in Okhaldunga should thus be highly prioritized as it will satisfy great needs and respect the level of human capacity in the district as well. In summary, according to women leaders, women are in charge of pre-harvest activities such as plantation, cultivation, irrigation and daily maintenance and of harvesting. Less than half are also involved in post-production activities. Women generally are, in Okhaldhunga, well involved in decision-making processes on all activities, especially when compared to other districts where women’s participation in livelihood activities remains more or less constrained to harvesting and field maintenance and does not involve any claim to express their views and opinions when determining decisions on household livelihood are being made.

Page | 64

Assistance Received

Livelihood assistance has only reached one quarter of the assessed population in

Okhaldhunga. Five months after the first earthquake, only residents of Jantarkhani,

Mulkharka, Palapu and Ragadeep have received a good coverage in terms of livelihood

assistance. Few wards in Shreechaur, Ragani and Raniban have also received livelihood-

related relief items. However, 90.4% affirmed that households in their wards were ready

to restart their livestock rearing and / or agricultural activities.

1,969 households received seeds (18.6%)

108 received tools (1%)

No other livelihood-related assistance was provided in the 15 assessed VDCs in

Okhaldhunga. Sahash, DRSC and UNICEF are the only NGOs reported engaged in

livelihood support to Okhaldhunga’s populations.

Livelihoods Needs of the Communities

Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs of their community in terms of livelihoods

assistance. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1being

the most urgent.

Seeds scored an average of 1.9, and were ranked in all VDCs by 91.8% of the ward

leaders. Seeds are the first priority in terms of livelihood assistance to be provided.

Agricultural training scored an average 2.2 and was ranked in all VDCs by 98.5% of

the ward leaders. Agricultural training is thus second priority.

Livestock scored an average of 3.1, and was ranked by 79.2% of the ward leaders.

Livestock is the third priority.

Tools ranked an average of 3.8 and were ranked by 63.7% of the ward leaders.

Shelter for livestock scored an average of 3.3, and was ranked by 82.2% of the ward

leaders.

Animal feed scored an average of 4.15, and was ranked by 42.2% of the ward leaders.

Storage units scored an average of 4.13, and were ranked by 37.8% of the ward

leaders.

Seeds, Agricultural training and livestock are seen as the 3 top priorities for resuming

livelihood activities based upon crop agriculture or livestock rearing.

Page | 65

Women’s Perspective on Livelihoods Needs

Women leaders were asked to rank the needs in terms of livelihood relief, as per women

and girls’ needs. They were given a list of items which they had to rank from 1 to 5 – with 1

the most urgent.

Agricultural training scored an average of 1.7, and was ranked in all VDCs by 94% of

the women leaders. Agricultural training is hence the very first priority for women

in Okhaldhunga.

Seeds scored an average of 2.6, and were ranked in all VDCs by 97% of the women

leaders. Seeds are the second priority for women.

Livestock scored an average of 2.8, and was ranked in all VDCs by 80% of the women

leaders. Livestock is thus third priority for women.

Tools scored an average of 3.6 and were ranked in all VDCs by 83.7% of the women

leaders. Tools are fourth priority.

Shelter for livestock scored an average of 3.9, and was ranked in all VDCs by 71.8% of

the women leaders. Shelter for livestock is fifth priority.

Animal feed scored an average of 3.8 and was ranked by 50.3% of women leaders.

Storage units scored an average of 3.8 and were ranked by 22.2% of women leaders.

Education

Access to education

Table 10. Number of schools per VDC before the earthquakes

Primary schools Secondary schools Total

Bhushinga 2 0 2

Fediguth 8 2 10

Jantarkhani 2 2 4

Kalikadevi 4 2 6

Khijifalate 4 3 7

Mulkharka 2 6 8

Palapu 7 2 9

Patle 5 3 8

Ragadeep 2 1 3

Ragani 4 4 8

Raniban 3 1 4

Rawadolu 3 3 6

Shreechaur 6 2 8

Sisneri 3 2 5

Yasam 5 2 7

Total 60 35 95

Page | 66

In Okhaldhunga, 95 schools were open before the earthquakes.

Only 4 are still standing after both earthquakes. 91 were destroyed.

Table 11. Number of schools per VDC after the earthquakes

Functional schools Level of destruction

Bhushinga 0 100% Fediguth 8 80%

Jantarkhani 4 100% Kalikadevi 6 100% Khijifalate 7 100% Mulkharka 8 100%

Palapu 9 100% Patle 8 100%

Ragadeep 3 100% Ragani 8 100%

Raniban 4 100% Rawadolu 4 75%

Shreechaur 8 100% Sisneri 5 100% Yasam 7 100% Total 91 95.8%

Figure 6.1: Level of school destruction per VDC

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Bhusinga Fediguth Jantarkhani Kalikadevi Khijifalate Mulkharka Palapu Patle

Page | 67

Figure 6.2: Level of school destruction per VDC

All schools have been destroyed in Bhushinga, Jantarkhani, Kalikadevi, Khijifalate,

Mulkharka, Ragadeep, Ragani, Rawadolu, Shreechaur, Sisneri and Yasam.

Despite the level of destruction, almost all school teachers are still running classes for

children and teenagers, as reported by 98.9% of ward leaders. In majority, they are

operating in makeshift shelters (71.1%) and in tents (14.4%).

65.2% of ward leaders mentioned that latrines in the schools have been damaged and would

therefore require WASH rehabilitation in addition to re-construction of infrastructure.

As per ward leaders’ estimations, there are approximately 15,652 students in Okhaldhunga,

which would represent 26.6% of the total population. This gives us an indication about the

large proportion of minors in the district. In average, they are 173 students following classes

in the same school.

220 students in Bhushinga.

1,262 in Fediguth.

635 in Jantarkhani.

1,066 in Kalikadevi.

1,347 in Khijifalate.

2,055 in Mulkharka.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Ragadeep Ragani Raniban Rawadolu Shreechaur Sisneri Yasam

Page | 68

1,811 in Palapu.

1,099 in Patle.

402 in Ragadeep.

1,498 in Ragani.

562 in Raniban.

604 in Rawadolu.

986 in Shreechaur.

873 in Sisneri.

1,232 in Yasam.

Women’s perspective on access to education

89.6% of women leaders report that the former closest school has been affected by the

earthquakes. This has very negatively impacted children’s education in Okhaldhunga;

indeed, one quarter of the respondents have no physical access to an educational centre

anymore. While 15% reported that they could not afford the school fees at all, more than

one third of the women reported that mothers did not send all their children to school

anymore because of the same issue. Moreover, almost one fifth of respondents are

prioritizing boys’ education to the detriment of girls’ education.

In average, the nearest governmental school is 2.2 kilometers away from the village; this

goes up to more than 4 kilometres in Kalikadevi.

Education Needs

Ward leaders were asked to rank the needs of the school facilities. They were given a list of

items which they had to rank from 1 to 3 – with 1 being the most urgent.

The reconstruction of the building is considered as a first priority by ward leaders. It

scored an average 1.3, and was ranked by 98.5% of the ward leaders.

School supplies scored an average of 1.9, and were ranked by 72.6% of the ward

leaders. School supplies are thus ranked as second priority.

WASH (latrines and water access) rehabilitation is the third priority in schools. It

scored an average of 2.7, and was ranked by 93.3% of the ward leaders.

Tents and tarpaulins scored an average of 2.3 and were ranked by only 10.3% of

ward leaders.

Page | 69

Damaged buildings keep being used when community

members do not have any alternative option

Page | 70

Health

Access to Health Facilities

In average, government health facilities are 2.3 kilometres away from households. Maximum

distance is reported in Patle (14 kilometres). While 80% said that their closest

governmental health facility was still open after the earthquakes, more than one quarter

of the respondents report that it became inaccessible after the earthquakes, including all

ward leaders in Bhushinga and 88.9% in Ragani and Shreechaur. 46.3% reported that the

health centre had been shifted in makeshift shelters; 9.26% are operating in tents (see

Figure 8).

Figure 7: Location of health care provision

Half of the latrines in health facilities in all VDCs were reported being damaged, including all

in Fediguth, Kalikadevi, Palapu, Raniban and Yasam.

In terms of caseload, the number of patient admissions per day was multiplied by 1.5,

representing an increase of 50% since the earthquakes with more than 2,809 patients

coming daily.

Private health facilities are, in average, very far from the villages (almost 16 kilometres).

Besides, almost two thirds are reported inaccessible (63.7%).

Medical assistance provided by NGOs is almost inexistent, with 91.1% asserting that there

was no additional medical response in their respective VDCs. Moreover, 91.7% among those

who did report a medical NGO in their ward added that it was not accessible. Only ward 3 in

Raniban seems to have access to medical assistance from an NGO.

46.3% 44.4%

9.3%

In makeshift shelters

In undamaged health carecentres

In tents

Page | 71

Women’s perspective on access to health facilities

In average, women leaders report that the closest health facility is 2.5 kilometres from their

home. The average distance is more than 6 kilometres in Patle and almost 5 kilometres in

Bhushinga. It even goes up to 14 and 12 kilometres for some wards in these VDCs.

More than two thirds of the women assert that their regular government health facility

has been affected by the earthquakes, including all women in Fediguth, Jantarkhani,

Kalikadevi, Mulkharka, Palapu, Patle, Ragadeep and Sisneri.

Among the ones whose health facility has been damaged, other problems have been

reported for women and children in accessing proper health care, including lack of financial

means to pay for consultations and adequate medicines (47.3%), no physical access (30.1%)

and no money to pay for transportation to the health centre (16.1%). Only 6.45% reported

that the damages had not affected women and children in accessing health facilities.

Healthcare Needs

When asked about the challenges faced by government health facilities and what would be

the most urgent material to allow them to be fully functional, ward leaders ranked priorities

from 1 (the most urgent) to 5 (the least urgent).

Reconstruction of building scores 1.6 and is reported by 62.2% of ward leaders. As a

first priority for health cares to be functional again, damaged and destroyed

buildings have to be reconstructed or rehabilitated.

Medicines scored 1.73 and are reported as a priority in all VDCs by 88.1% of ward

leaders. Medicines are thus a second priority for people in Okhaldhunga.

Staff scored an average of 2.1 and was reported by 54.8% of ward leaders. Staff is

then a third priority.

Accessibility through rubble clearing activities scored 2.2 and was reported by 30.4%

of ward leaders.

Latrines and drinking water accessibility (i.e. WASH assistance) scored 2.7 and was

ranked by 55.5% of ward leaders.

Tents and tarps scored an average of 2.25 but were ranked by only 5.9% of ward

leaders.

Page | 72

Coping Strategies

Women and ward leaders were asked about how households would cope with losses due to

both earthquakes.

The large majority of households will, according to leaders, cope with the vulnerable

situation they find themselves in since the earthquakes by relying on labour migration.

Indeed, according to 96.3% of the ward leaders, a male adult member of the household

would leave the ward or the VDC to find new employment opportunities. Many people of

working age in Nepal cannot find employment that is adequate to support themselves and

their families in their ward. This trend is of relative concern as labour migration could

provoke internal displacement and poor quality living conditions for the man separated

from his her family. Further, while one quarter of the ward leaders assert that the head of

household would move, including all in Ragadeep and Sisneri, 39.3% are considering labor

migration for boys under 18 as well. Gender does not play a significantly differentiation

role as women are also expected to move to find work, including two thirds of adult

women and more than one third of girls under 18 (35.6%), mostly in Jantarkhani, Mulkharka,

Patle, Ragadeep and Sisneri. Children subjected to such migration are at high risk of

exploitation, bonded labour in high risk sectors and human trafficking. This is a blatant

violation of their basic human rights and it threatens their immediate and long-term well-

being and education levels. Migrant children in Nepal are also, and girls in particular, at

risk of being submitted to commercial sexual exploitation and abuse and sold into

prostitution to complement their parent’s source of income. For 59.3% of the ward leaders,

the whole household would have to leave their home to seek employment elsewhere. This

includes all ward leaders in Kalikadevi, Mulkharkha, Palapu, Ragadeep, Raniban, Sisneri and

Yasam, 8 out of 9 in Fediguth and 7 out of 9 in Patle.

70.4% would take loan from an informal institution (yet none of the ward leaders in Raniban

reported borrowing money from a money lender as an option, only one in Fediguth and two

in Palapu).

65.2% are planning on relying on their own savings until they find new and sustainable

sources of income. However, this is not considered in Mulkharka or Sisneri.

64.4% are willing to sell their remaining productive assets, including seeds, tools, livestock

and land, especially in Khijifalate, Patle, Ragadeep, Ragani, Rawadolu, Shreechaur and

Sisneri.

63% would reduce their food expenses (including 100% in Kalikadevi, Mulkharka, Patle,

Ragadeep, Raniban, Sisneri and Yasam). Reduction in food quantity and meal frequency

could greatly endanger their health in terms of proper nutrition levels and quality diet.

Page | 73

35.6% would take a loan from family and friends (including all in Mulkharka and Sisneri but

none in Fediguth, Khijifalate, Ragani, Raniban, Rawadolu and Shreechaur).

34.8% would reduce their health expenses (including 100% in Jantarkhani, Mulkharka, Patle,

Ragadeep and Sisneri).

34.8% would reduce the education expenses for their children (including 100% in Mulkharka,

Patle, Ragadeep and Sisneri).

Only one quarter of the population (25.9%) would take a loan from a formal institution such

as a bank institution (yet 100% in Mulkharka).

22.2% would consider selling their non-productive assets (yet 100% in Sisneri).

Considering that most of the households were already economically insecure prior the

earthquakes, it can be assumed that these coping strategies will impact households

extremely negatively. It will further deepen their vulnerability by depleting their

resources, increasing their indebtedness and weaken their ability to pay for the most

essential goods and social services.

Figure 8. Coping Strategies of Households

Labour migration of male adult

Take loan from informal network / institution

Labor migration of female adult

Use own savings

Sell remaining productive assets

Reduce food expenses

Labour migration of the whole household

Labour migration of male child

Labour migration of female child

Borrow money from friends and relatives

Reduce health expenses

Reduce education expenses

Take loan from formal institution

Sell non-productive assets

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Page | 74

Women’s perspective on Coping Strategies The most considered coping strategy for Okhaldhunga’s women residents is to use their own savings as a temporary coping strategy (65.2%). 48% of women leaders in all VDCs say that the head of the household will have to move to find work, a situation that has to be carefully monitored to ensure that the basic rights of the labour migrant are safeguarded and that the working conditions respect minimum employment standards, i.e. minimum wage, maximum working hours and formal agreements between the employer and the employee, including for daily workers who represent the bulk of the labor migrants in Nepal. Furthermore, it could also increase the levels of vulnerability of women left alone to manage the regular livelihood activities, family care and household maintenance. All women leaders in Kalikadevi, Raniban and Shreechaur reported that the head of household had to move from the VDC to find new job opportunities. 38.5% are also considering the option of having the whole household move to another district where they would be find employment more easily. Similarly to the opinions shared by the ward leaders, gender does not play an important role in labour migration in Okhaldhunga; while 42.2% reported that a male adult member of the household would move, 40.7% also said that female adult members could too. Even children, boys (15.6%) and girls (21.5%) alike, could be sent to another district to work and bring another source of income to the family. This is an alarming finding as it could lead to child labor and child trafficking. Half of the women are planning to borrow money from relatives or friends (49.6%), including 100% in Fediguth, Kalikadevi and Raniban. Of concern to ACTED is the proportion of women reporting to consider cutting off food expenses (39.3%). However, the trends are not the same in all VDCs:

0% in Bhushinga

100% in Fediguth

0% in Jantarkhani

100% in Kalikadevi

0% in Khijifalate

33.3% in Mulkharka

77.8% in Palapu

11.1% in Patle

22.2% in Ragadeep

0% in Ragani

100% in Raniban

0% in Rawadolu

22.2% in Shreechaur

22.2% in Sisneri

100% in Yasam.

Page | 75

37% reported that they would reduce education expenses, including all women in Fediguth, Kalikadevi, Raniban and Yasam and 88.9% in Palapu. 34.8% reported that they would reduce health expenses, including all women in Fediguth, Raniban and Yasam and 88.9% in Kalikadevi and Palapu. One third of respondents said that women are planning to sell some productive assets to cope with the financial and asset losses resulting from the earthquakes. However, non-productive assets would generally not be sold (only 12.6% of respondents). Only 16.3% were planning to take a loan from a formal institution; the option of borrowing money from an informal institution, i.e. a money lender, is considered by one fifth of the households according to women leaders’ estimations.

Page | 76

Conclusion

The earthquakes have impacted households on multiple levels, affecting not only their

shelter but also their daily life, their access to and use of basic necessities such as cooking or

hygiene items, their access to latrines and water, their food supplies and their capacity to

provide for themselves and their family.

Okhaldhunga has been tremendously affected by the earthquakes, as assessed and

documented. Furthermore, its population is very difficult to be reached due to

environmental constraints. Yet the population has received limited assistance from

organisations.

1. Shelter along with Non-Food items remain the most crucial priority for all

households. Shelter kits should be winterized in anticipation of the cold season. No

emergency kits should be distributed anymore.

2. Access to WASH / latrines is the second priority.

3. Food security and livelihoods are the third priority.

Important to bear in mind is that many households have lost their main source of

income/food or productive assets, and have bleak prospects for the future. This may have a

severe impact on households’ food security as most of them usually use their harvest for

internal consumption. It is therefore essential to implement livelihood recovery activities in

order to build households’ resilience, to mitigate displacement and migration, and to reduce

the risk of communities relying on external aid for survival.

Finally, ACTED should remain aware of discrimination during distributions, as vulnerable

households (e.g. elderly, ‘uneducated’ or particularly landless people) tend to face

challenges in accessing relief from local authorities (e.g. VDC leaders) or relief committee

members.

Page | 77

ANNEXES

Annex 1 – Okhaldhunga’s markets

District VDC Ward number

Name of market

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 1 Phalate Bhanjyang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 2 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 3 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 4 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 5 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 6 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 7 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 8 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 9 Phalate Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 1 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 2 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 3 Pattale, Solukhumbu

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 4 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 5 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 6 Pattale, Solukhumbu

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 7 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 8 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 9 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 1 Ghodakhori

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 2 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 3 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 4 Ghodakhori

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 5 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 6 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 7 Ghodakhori

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 8 Ghodakhori

Page | 78

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 9 Ghodakhori

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 1 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 2 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 3 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 4 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 5 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 6 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 7 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 8 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 9 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 1 Kosha Haat

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 2 Phalate

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 3 Phalate

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 4 Phalate

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 5 Phalate

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 6 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 7 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 8 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 9 Phalate

Okhaldhunga Palapu 1 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 2 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 3 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 4 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 5 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 6 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 7 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Palapu 8 Nabalpur

Okhaldhunga Palapu 9 Palapu Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Patle 1 Talkot, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Patle 2 Talkot, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Patle 3 Talkot, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Patle 4 Khijiphalate

Okhaldhunga Patle 5 Khijiphalate

Okhaldhunga Patle 6 Khijiphalate

Okhaldhunga Patle 7 Talkot, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Patle 8 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Patle 9 Talkot, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 1 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 2 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 3 Bildu Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 4 Bildu Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 5 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 6 Talkot, Okhaldhunga

Page | 79

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 7 Bildu Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 8 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 9 Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Ragani 1 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 2 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 3 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 4 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 5 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 6 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 7 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 8 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Ragani 9 Bamti Bhandar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 1 Pokhari Bhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Raniban 2 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 3 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 4 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 5 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 6 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 7 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 8 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Raniban 9 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 1 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 2 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 3 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 4 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 5 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 6 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 7 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 8 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 9 Buktel Bazaar

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 1 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 2 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 3 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 4 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 5 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 6 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 7 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 8 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 9 Rampur, Okhaldhunga

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 1 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 2 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 3 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 4 Ghurmi

Page | 80

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 5 Manebhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 6 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 7 Ghurmi

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 8 Manebhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 9 Manebhanjayang

Okhaldhunga Yasam 1 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 2 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 3 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 4 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 5 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 6 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 7 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 8 Sagutar

Okhaldhunga Yasam 9 Sagutar

Annex 2 - Gravity Water Supply Schemes Damaged but Functioning

District VDC Ward number

Name of source

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 2 Chakgariver

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 3 Aarubhot

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 4 Kamthali

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 7 Pukika khanepani

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 9 Dhemba khane pani

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 1 Khani khola, Fatane ban, Khute khola

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 3 Khahare khola,Badam churi,nepane,Guthu gaun

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 4 Dhra dada, Maha vir-1, Maha vir-2

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 5 Khode khola, sisne khola, Thate khola

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 6 Batase, Chakti khola, Chuche khola, Gosal khola

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 7 Batase Pani, Sim pani, Padhera Khola, Mahavir

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 8 Kali Mati Mahavir, Rithe Rukh, Gope Khola

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 9 Chharchhare, Dhadkhola, Machharkhola, Salle khola

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 1 Maidane-1 and Maidane-2

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 2 Thade

Page | 81

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 3 Shano Khola

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 4 Hareli Bhir

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 5 Hareli Bhir

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 9 Latte bari and Nali Danda

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 1 Dhobikhola, Dhobikhola sim, Okharbote

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 2 Dhatkharka

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 3 Lute Padhera

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 4 Khalte Khola

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 6 Laharni Khola

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 7 Rancha Khola

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 9 Rancha Khola

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 1 Khargira

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 3 Lampata, Sundas Tol ,Pancha Buddha

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 4 Basthan Chhipchhipe

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 5 Chhading khanepani

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 6 Piure pomi

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 7 Baisake,Bhanse,Tallo Bhanse

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 8 Dhara khane pani,Tamari khane pani

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 9 Falate khane pani/Dhuble falate

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 1 Bhadaure

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 3 Kopche

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 4 Pahare Pani

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 5 Kagate

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 6 Rishing Devisthan

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 8 Lampate Ambote

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 9 Sinkauli Khola

Okhaldhunga Palapu 1 Junge Khola

Okhaldhunga Palapu 2 Junge Khola

Okhaldhunga Palapu 3 Kalo Khola

Okhaldhunga Palapu 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 9 N/A

Page | 82

Okhaldhunga Patle 1 Patle Saupakha

Okhaldhunga Patle 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 3 Latte bari ondidada

Okhaldhunga Patle 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 9 Chhange Khola

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 1 Mularu Uttisghariand Kharbari

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 2 Gofo

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 3 Bildu Danda and Gau Danda

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 4 Jukepani

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 6 Kalo Muhan

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 7 Kulomuhan

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 1 Sisneri, Jimpam, Elam dhara, Becpu

Okhaldhunga Ragani 2 Simlekhola, kabre khola, sisneri

Okhaldhunga Ragani 3 Devisthan , Charchare

Okhaldhunga Ragani 4 Kafal bote, chorathan

Okhaldhunga Ragani 5 Ragani devisthan

Okhaldhunga Ragani 6 Takarpur,Jordhara,pudupu,makladim

Okhaldhunga Ragani 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 8 Banchhara Khop Muhan

Okhaldhunga Ragani 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 1 Indreni Chhanga, Gauthalitar, Bhalukhola, Devithan, Chhpchhipe

Okhaldhunga Raniban 2 Laharni Khola

Okhaldhunga Raniban 3 Laharni Khola

Okhaldhunga Raniban 4 Kalo Khola

Okhaldhunga Raniban 5 Laharni Khola

Okhaldhunga Raniban 6 Kalo Khola

Okhaldhunga Raniban 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 9 Likuwa Khola, Basghan Khola

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 1 Heude Kharka water Supply

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 5 Patle chalchale

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 6 Devithan

Page | 83

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 7 Bhumathan

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 1 Gaira Bowe Khalso

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 5 Khire pani

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 6 shalle khola, katuwal padhero

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 1 Mite Khola, Topa Khola

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 2 Odare

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 3 Bhote Khola

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 4 Likhu Khola

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 5 Jukepani, Archale

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 6 Dadajerung

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 7 Jordhara

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 9 Jordhara

Okhaldhunga Yasam 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 2 Dhorini Gaukhel

Okhaldhunga Yasam 3 Bange Pipal

Okhaldhunga Yasam 4 Junge Khola

Okhaldhunga Yasam 5 Mahabir

Okhaldhunga Yasam 6 Mahuri Khola

Okhaldhunga Yasam 7 Mahuri Khola

Okhaldhunga Yasam 8 Mahabir Khola

Okhaldhunga Yasam 9 Junge Khola, Kamera Khola

Annex 3 – Gravity Water Supply Schemes Destroyed and Non-Functioning

District VDC Ward number

Name of source

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 7 N/A

Page | 84

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Bushinga 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Fediguth 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 1 Maidane-1 and Maidane-2

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 2 Thade

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 3 Shano Khola

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 4 Hareli Bhir

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 5 Hareli Bhir

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Jantarkhani 9 Latte Danda and Nali Danda

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Kalikadevi 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Khijifalate 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 1 Bhadaure

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 3 Kopche

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 4 Pahare Pani

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 5 Kagate

Page | 85

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 6 Rishing Devisthan

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 8 Lampate Ambote

Okhaldhunga Mulkharka 9 Sinkauli Khola

Okhaldhunga Palapu 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Palapu 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 1 Patle Saupakha

Okhaldhunga Patle 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 3 Latte bari ondi dada

Okhaldhunga Patle 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Patle 9 Chhangekhola

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 1 Mularu Uttisghariand Kharbari

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 2 Gofo

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 3 Bildu danda and Gau Danda

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 4 Jukepani

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 6 Kalo Muhan

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 7 Kulomuhan and Kornama

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragadeep 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Ragani 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 3 N/A

Page | 86

Okhaldhunga Raniban 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Raniban 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Rawadolu 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Shreechaur 9 N/A

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 1 Mite Khola

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 2 Odare

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 3 Bhotr Khola

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 4 Likhu Khola

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 5 Jukepani, Archale

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 6 Dadajerung

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 7 Jordhara

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Sisneri 9 Jordhara

Okhaldhunga Yasam 1 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 2 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 3 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 4 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 5 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 6 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 7 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 8 N/A

Okhaldhunga Yasam 9 N/A