Background
During the morning of April 25th, a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake violently shook most of Nepal into devastation.
Thousands of lives were lost and many more were seriously affected. According to various reports,the death
toll is more than 8,000 people and counting; the destruction has left more than 2.8 million people displaced.
On May 12th, a second earthquake measuring 7.3 in magnitude hit the country, intensifying the amount of
destruction and escalating the fear of the people. However, the series of earthquakes and aftershocks was
just the beginning. The monsoon is on its way, which will increase the chances of spreading disease as well as
possibly cause landslides and impassable roads, which would slow down current relief efforts.
With the guidance of the Dhulikel Hospital, we identified Devbhumi Baluwa village as the locality to focus our
work. Devbhumi Baluwa is a scenic village set in the foothills of the Himalaya located 50 km East of Kathmandu
in the Kavre District of Panchkal Municipality. Here we identified two clusters to focus our rehabiltation
efforts: Ranipani and Bakhultar, consisting of a total of 310 homes. Although the human mortality rate in this
area was zero, the majority of the homes have been completely reduced into mounds of rubble, while the
surviving structures have been damaged beyond repair and are completely inhabitable
Manav Sadhna felt called to serve our brothers and sisters in Nepal as soon as the disaster struck. Although
there is plenty of need in Ahmedabad itself, calamities of this nature pause life entirely for those affected. It is
our humble experience that a little love and support can go a long way in such critical times. Also, the cultural
similarities between India and our Nepalese neighbor enable us to serve in a meaningful and responsible
way. We are also blessed to have strong team dynamics and support within the organization, allowing some
to serve in Nepal as others balance the work in Ahmedabad.
Bakultar and Ranipani
The communities of Bakultar and Ranipani observe sustainable practices such as farming for sustenance,
utilizing bio-gas mechanisms, and practicing small scale animal husbandry, largely for personal needs such
as milk and eggs. The wealthier families deal in commercial agriculture while the lower income families
often work as wage laborers on the other farms. As nearly every family has one member working (often
as laborers) and/or studying abroad in countries such as Malaysia, Japan, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc,
remittance is a large source of earnings. There are also more than five locally organized cooperatives that
focus on savings and small loans. The households are organized around community water taps, connected to
a larger tank. The villagers currently have access to potable water.
The Dhulikhel Hospital has established a well-functioning outreach clinic in the area for primary health care
needs. After the earthquake, the clinic has been witnessing more sprains, lacerations, diarrheal conditions
and psychological issues in addition to the typical range of acute and chronic diseases.
Looking Forward
The immediate need remains durable temporary shelters to protect against the expected monsoon in June.
In addition to shelter for the families, they require refuge for their animals, the incoming harvest, personal
belongings they have salvaged, and for any surviving brick. The locals mostly build homes with unbaked bricks,
which would not endure the rains if left exposed. At this point, each family is trying to retrieve whatever
building materials they can and are reusing them to assemble temporary shelters. The locals have the skills to
do so and the process of building temporary housing has positively engaged the families in activity. However,
they require additional materials to construct sturdy shelters; otherwise the rains will lead to further loss and
illness. The April 25th and May 12th earthquakes coupled with the endless aftershocks have really disturbed
the confidence of the people, especially the children. Another immediate and ongoing need is emotional and
psychological support to help people completely heal from the trauma.
Long-term Rehabilitation: The people of Nepal and Devbhumi Baluwa are extremely diligent and resourceful;
however, most do not have the financial means or the skills to rebuild their homes in way that would provide
safety against any further calamities. Many families are planning to use recovered materials to reconstruct
their homes after the monsoon. In the mean time, people are replacing the traditional three-storied home
with a single-story retrofit design. Although this temporary solution may offer slightly more durability than
the traditional home, it is an unadvisable option. At the most basic level, the homes require mortar between
the concrete and bricks; however, for real security, the houses need reinforcements incorporated into the
local design.
