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The 2015 Nepal earthquake disaster: lessons learned one year on.
M L Hall1, A C K Lee1, C Cartwright1
1The School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, UK.
Public Health
|April 1, 2017
Summary
The 2015 Nepal earthquake response highlighted critical needs for community involvement and local leadership. A national workshop revealed a disconnect between disaster policy and implementation, emphasizing the need for a Nepal-centric approach to improve future preparedness.
Area of Science:
- Disaster Management and Public Health
- Post-Disaster Needs Assessment
- Community Resilience Studies
Background:
- The 2015 Nepal earthquake caused widespread devastation, resulting in over 8,000 fatalities and displacing millions.
- A national workshop convened stakeholders one year post-disaster to reflect on response efforts and identify lessons learned.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze participant experiences and identify key challenges and successes in the earthquake response.
- To derive actionable lessons for enhancing future disaster preparedness and management in Nepal.
Main Methods:
- A national workshop involving 135 participants from diverse sectors including government, NGOs, health, and community representatives.
- Seven facilitated focus groups addressing critical areas: water, sanitation, hygiene, hospital services, health, nutrition, education, shelter, policy, and community engagement.
- Qualitative data collection through group discussions in Nepalese, followed by thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified challenges included logistics, supply chain disruptions, leadership/coordination issues, media impact, and cultural influences on behavior.
- Key lessons emphasized the necessity of community involvement throughout disaster response and preparedness.
- A significant gap was noted between disaster management policies and their practical implementation, potentially leading to ineffective responses.
Conclusions:
- Reflecting on disaster response is crucial for improving future preparedness, with the Nepal Earthquake National Workshop providing a vital platform for this.
- Participants expressed a strong desire for a Nepal-centric approach to disaster management.
- Learning from past experiences is essential for building more effective and resilient disaster management systems for Nepal.
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