Oxfam’s Earthquake Response in Rukum (West)

At midnight on 3 November 2023, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Nepal with its epicenter in Jajarkot, a remote and hilly district in Karnali Province in western Nepal. It caused extensive damage to houses, stored grains, livestock sheds, etc. in Jajarkot and Rukum (West) districts of Karnali Province. The earthquake resulted in the loss of 154 lives and left 364 people injured. A total of 26,557 houses were destroyed while 35,455 were partially damaged. 

Oxfam had mobilized a team for initial assessment within a couple of days of the earthquake. 

Oxfam and Bheri Environmental Excellence (BEE) Group reached out to 172 households, six public schools, two ward offices and one health center and more than 2000 individuals displaced by Jajarkot Earthquake through WASH facilities in Aathbiskot Municipality, Sanibheri Rural Municipality, and Triveni Rural Municipality of Rukum (West) district. 

Our initial assessment had found that majority of toilets were damaged by the earthquake. For the first phase of emergency response, a total of 70 temporary latrines of iron frame with glass-fiber structure were installed in both municipalities in November 2023. They were installed in the places where people had made makeshift shelters, schools, individual households with high priority, and public gathering points like Ward Office. 

Likewise, we immediately reached to 1151 individuals (50 percent women/girls) through distribution of 260 sets of WASH kits in December 2023 upon the request of local government as people living in remote areas were at risk of the spread of infectious diseases. The WASH kit consisted of items such as water purifier, bath soap and laundry soap, toothpaste and toothbrush for children and adults, towel, plastic mug and bucket with lid, sanitary pads, ORS (oral rehydration solution), mosquito repellent, comb, and nail cutter. As the kit included water purifier, people got access to safe drinking water as well as personal hygiene. 

With majority of people living in tents and temporary shelters, the cold winter posed a challenge especially for elderly people and pregnant women. 

With this scenario in mind, Oxfam and local partner, BEE Group provided winterization support to the community. Oxfam and BEE group handed over 100 beds and 100 blankets to earthquake affected elderly people, lactating mothers, and pregnant women of Sanibheri Rural Municipality. This initiative benefited 443 individuals and was appreciated by the community as well as local government.

Lalchhari Pun from China Bagar, Sanibheri Rural Municipality-1, Rukum West district is one of the recipients of the winterization support. She is happy that she gets to sleep on a warm bed amidst harsh winter.

“I had been taking medicine for stomachache. I don’t know what caused it. But now that I can sleep in a warm bed, the stomachache has miraculously vanished. I think it was due to cold,” shares 70-year-old Pun. Pun has been living in a makeshift shelter ever since the earthquake. Her house was completely damaged by the earthquake. She recalls being buried in the debris of her stone house. It was the quick action of her son and daughter-in-law along with help from neighbours that they could pull her out of the collapsed house alive. 

Likewise, 68-year-old Buinchya Pun, from the same municipality received winterization kit. After receiving the bed and blanket, she and 70-year-old husband, Raghbir Pun no longer have to sleep on the cold ground. She claims that this has helped cure her stomachache too. 

Oxfam’s earthquake response was undertaken in close coordination with local government and community. The local government has appreciated and extended their gratitude formally to Oxfam and BEE group for providing humanitarian assistance in a period of crisis by respecting the community’s requirements.

“The earthquake has caused insurmountable damage for people of our municipality. 10,240 houses have been destroyed. Toilets of almost all households have been completely destroyed. However, this was overlooked by most of us. It was Oxfam and BEE Group who came forward and provided the temporary toilets to the communities. We are thankful for that,” said Ravi KC, Mayor of Aathbiskot Municipality. 

For the second phase of response, Oxfam and BEE Group constructed 273 permanent toilets – 143 in Sanibheri Rural Municipality and 130 in Aathbiskot Municipality.

There is a continued need to support recovery and boost long term resilience of earthquake affected communities. Oxfam is committed to supporting the long term recovery needs for individuals and communities.