Shifting gears from trainees to responders
Post-Earthquake Response in Jajarkot, Nepal
How Community Volunteers in Jajarkot Are Helping in Relief Endeavors
Tucked behind high hills, and enveloped by the Bheri River, when the 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality late at night, the ground started shaking, rattling the entire country.
The silent yet persistent threat of an earthquake looms heavily in Nepal, and particularly the Western region of Nepal. To add to the threat, poorly constructed houses and a lack of preparedness initiatives claim many lives.
“I was in Nalgad to facilitate a training to inform participants on the National Building Code, safe construction practices, local construction methods, safe temporary shelters. As soon as the earthquake occurred on Friday evening, my team and I shifted to a ‘response mode,’” says Mr. Saroj Adhikari, who is certified in Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE).
The fact that Mr. Adhikari and his team, who are trained in CADRE, were there to support the relief and response endeavours was sheer luck.
Mr. Adhikari shares, “I was immediately involved in search and rescue operations working directly with the security personnel till the early hours of the morning, providing basic first aid to those injured, and transporting the injured to the Nalgad hospital; helping over 40 people.”
Another eventful happening over the past month was that over 40 community members were trained in search and rescue in the months of September/October 2023 in Nalgad Municipality and Barekot Rural Municipality, right before the earthquake of 3 November. A training participant, Ms. Sona Oli shares with a big smile on her face, “I am so thankful to have received the search and rescue training when I did. Thanks to it, I was able to help transport up to three of my neighbors to the hospital.”
Contrary to smiles though, the situation in Nalgad as soon as the earthquake hit was grave. The toll was heavy, and a multitude of masonry buildings in seven municipalities, including Nalgad and Barekot, were brought to ruin. According to the National Emergency Operation Centre, the number of reported deaths stands at 153; approximately 62,039 households have been affected, and some 250,000 people were exposed to hazards and are at risk.
Yes, the times are tough. Yes, there is a lot more work to be done. But the resilience and determination on the face of Ms. Oli and others in Jajarkot is clearly visible.
As soon as the earthquake struck community members like Ms. Oli who had received the training sprung to action, shifting gears from trainees to responders — putting their learnings to immediate test. The presence of four CADRE certified trainers also turned out to be a boon, whose efforts on search and rescue, first-aid and managing temporary shelter for collapsed households helped save lives during the crucial first few hours after the earthquake.
UNDP Nepal in collaboration with SAC Nepal, with generous support from the Government of Japan, had trained community members in Barekot Rural Municipality and Nalgad Municipality on search and rescue in late September/ early October. This four-day training brought together Community Emergency Rescue Team (CERT) volunteers from each project municipality who were trained on basic first aid, firefighting and river rescue approaches, and basic search and rescue techniques that can be deployed during disasters as a means of immediate response. The goal was to train the volunteers as first line of defense during times of disaster. “We truly appreciate and respect the humanitarian support that was provided in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake by UNDP trained community members and trainers, and anticipate more support in the coming days,” says Mr. Balbir B.K., Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Nalgad Municipality.
The response efforts of Mr. Adhikari and the CERT volunteers demonstrate how such trainings can be lifesaving. It shows that community engagement is vital for coordinated action, and that preparedness that puts human security at the centre is key.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Government of Nepal, with assistance from the Government of Japan under the Japan Supplementary Budget and UNDP’s Global Climate Promise is working actively to promote climate resilience in Jajarkot. ‘Enhancing Human Security through Local Climate Actions’ project recognizes the significance of local climate actions for improving human security, thus building resilience and improving livelihoods. The project is being implemented in Nalgadh Municipality and Barekot Rural Municipality of Jajarkot District, in Karnali Province, and seeks to develop a comprehensive approach to climate change adaptation and resilience through local actions.
