Jajarkot Emergency Earthquake Response

Executive Summary:

National Federation of Youth NGO Nepal in financial Support from Japan International Support program has distributed 350 Pcs of warm fiber blankets to the earthquake affected population of Ward no. 1, 5 and 6 of Barekot Rural Municipality, Jajarkot on the date 2^nd of January 2024 through the program entitled “Emergency Support to the Jajarkot Earthquake Victims”.  The program was accomplished with the following objective:

• To provide warmth to the vulnerable population such as lactating mother, elders, infants and children who are affected from earthquake and are compiled to sleep outside without warm blankets

In order to accomplished this program effectively and to make sure that the every blankets were handover to right households, the team of the NFYN and JISP self-went to the distribution location at Jajarkot and handover the blankets to the vulnerable population. Form JISP Mr. Bijay Shrestha (Country Representative of JISP) and Mr. Bimal Sundas (Admin and Finance Head of JISP), likewise from NFYN Mr. Shashi Sharma Majgaiya (Central President of NFYN) and Mr. Kshitij Sharma (Program Coordinator of NFYN) went for the distribution program at Jajarkot. The program was successfully conducted in coordination with District disaster risk reduction and management committee, DAO Jajarkot and local disaster management committee, Barekot Rural Municipality and in management support from local NGO Holistic Development Centre (HDC) Nepal.

Accomplishment

The devastating earthquake of 6.4 magnitude on 3^rd November at 11:47 Pm making the epicenter Rame dada of Barekot Rural Municipality resulted severe loss and damage to the people life and infrastructure of Jajarkot and Rukum West districts of Nepal. On the 6^th November 2023 further damage was witnessed by the aftershock of the 5.8 magnitude. According to the report published by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) 153 lives are lost and 364 are injured while 26, 557 households are fully damaged and 35, 455 houses are partially damaged. The peoples of the households which are fully or partially damaged are compelled to sleep on the tent or temporary settlement with limited materials to provide them warmth during the night. A news published on the National Newspaper Kantipur says that 36 people has lost their life due to the cold in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

The epicenter of the earthquake, Barekot Rural Municipality ward no. 1  has limited casualties when considered to the casualties due to earthquake, but the lives after earthquake due cold are increasing significantly. Considering this factor NFYN in financial support of JISP decided to distribute the warm blankets to the 350 households of ward no. 1 and other two vulnerable wards namely ward no. 5 and 6 with an aim to reduce the number casualties occurring due to the cold.  The distribution location Barekot Rural Municipality was decided through the recommendation made by District Administration Office, Jajarkot and wards were decided through the household data provided by Barekot Rural Municipality. The vulnerable population such lactating mother elders, signal women, children and other vulnerable population of this three wards of Barekot rural municipality has received the warm blankets.  A total of 242 blankets were distributed to the households of ward no. 1 of Rural Municipality while remaining 108 blankets were distributed to the households of ward no. 5 and 6. The distribution to the every house hold was done in the presence of the ward chairperson, public representatives and social workers of the Rural Municipality 

Outcome of the activity

• The distribution of the warm blankets to the vulnerable population of ward no. 1, 5 and 6 of rural municipality have ensured that they have sufficient warmth during the night. This will play an important role in minimizing the number of casualties due to cold weather