On 25th April, an earthquake of a 7.8 magnitude on the Richter scale and a depth of 2 km, hit Nepal in Lamjung District (north-west of the capital city of Kathmandu; south of the China border). The epicentre was located 68km east from Pokhara, and 77 km northwest of Kathmandu. Strong aftershocks have been felt in the first days after the quake, with at least 28 occurring on 25th April, ranging in magnitude from 5 to 6.7. The National Seismological Centre has recorded as many as 380 aftershocks with a magnitude of 4 or greater, including a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on 12 May, which caused further destruction in already devastated areas. The Government of Nepal reports that human casualties have reached 8,856 lives lost with 22,309 additional people injured (Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal (DRR Portal), 20 August 2015). In addition, official reports indicate that 602,257 homes were destroyed and a further 285,099 were severely damaged (MoHA, DRR Portal, 20 August 2015).

According to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Report published by the Government of Nepal (GoN), major devastations have taken place in the country. Out of the 75 districts, 31 have been severely affected, out of which 14 have been declared ‘crisis-hit’ for the purpose of prioritizing these districts for rescue and relief operations. 17 other neighboring districts have been partially affected. The destruction has been widespread, covering residential and government buildings, heritage sites, schools, health posts, rural roads, bridges, water supply systems, and hydropower plants. It is estimated that the total value of disaster effects (damages and losses) caused by the earthquakes is NPR 706 billion or its equivalent of US$ 7.0 billion.

Expected Results and Main Activities:

Shelter: To support affected people to repair their homes and build back safer.

• Emergency shelter kits will be distributed in line with household NFIs. CARE will also provide emergency shelter advice/training on the use of materials in combination with distributions, and technical assistance for those who are re-building or repairing their homes.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): To meet the immediate and lifesaving WASH needs of people who are most affected by the Nepal earthquake through provision of safe drinking water, the distribution of hygiene kits and hygiene promotion, and latrine construction.

• CARE will provide safe drinking water and construct latrines. CARE will address the specific hygiene needs of women and girls through distribution of sanitary items. Hygiene promotion through social mobilization (in partnership with local CBOs) in advance of the monsoon season in June-August will be a priority.

Food Security and Livelihood (FSL): To protect and restore livelihood options and enhance resilience of earthquake-affected vulnerable households. To address the immediate, medium and long-term livelihood options of earthquake-affected women, girls, boys, and men in target districts and ensure nutritional status of these most vulnerable population does not deteriorate.

• Unconditional cash transfers, cash for work/ value vouchers, livelihood recovery through distribution of fruit seedlings, saplings, livestock and veterinary support, farm tools and  improved seeds and grains storage facilities and market functionality support are some of the activities that will be carried out to ensure strengthened food security and enhanced livelihood options.

Sexual, reproductive and maternal health (SRMH): To enable health posts to provide gender-responsive services.

• In the initial phase, CARE will assist with the delivery of reproductive health kits, including medical equipment for birthing centers and clean delivery kits; support the social mobilization of pregnant and lactating women to seek SRMH in emergency health services; and organize Reproductive Health Camps to ensure SRMH services are reaching remote and marginalized communities. In the recovery phase, CARE will use its Shelter and WASH programming to support infrastructure improvements at health posts to enable them to provide gender-responsive services. In both initial and recovery phases, CARE will work with Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) for community mobilization and referral networks and to encourage pregnant women to continue seeking healthcare services. We will also: (a) support the distribution of essential supplies for family planning; (b) work with midwives to support emergency obstetric and newborn care services; (c) support effective referral systems through good co-ordination with other actors; (d) work with mass media such as local FM radio to disseminate information and messages on contextual SRMH needs and priorities.

Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Protection: To inform beneficiaries of their rights, provide GBV awareness messaging for prevention and protection, and provide GBV referral information to survivors of GBV.

• CARE will reinforce staff, volunteer and partner knowledge on protection issues and inform beneficiaries of their rights through verbal messages, participatory activities and media. Information Volunteers and provision of Information Education Communication (IEC) materials will also provide GBV awareness messaging for prevention/protection as well as referral information for survivors of GBV.