Preparedness, Prompt Response Crucial

The vulnerability of Nepal to large-scale earthquakes has been demonstrated once more after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook Western Nepal late Friday night, killing at least 157 people and wounding hundreds. People in the districts of Rukum West and Jajarkot are in utter crisis as a result of the strong earthquake that damaged several of their homes, causing them to spend their days without shelter. While the grief of losing loved ones is still writ large on their faces, the realisation that they have lost their possessions and properties due to the earthquake is heartbreaking. According to reports, the quake on Friday night destroyed roughly 8,000 homes in Rukum West and Jajarkot. Of them, 3,000 have been completely destroyed, while 5,000 have suffered partial damage. These houses include residences, schools, and security agency facilities. Road networks spanning more than 650 kilometres in several areas were also damaged.

The dreaded tremor in West Nepal, which sent shockwaves as far as New Delhi and Kathmandu, jolted many Nepalis with fear as it reminded them of disasters like the devastating Gorkha earthquake in 2015 and outbreak of COVID-19. It is, however, heartening to see that government and private organisations, all three security agencies, health professionals, leaders, and workers from various political parties have arrived in quake-affected areas in West Nepal to assist the victims. Following the quake, several private organisations, municipalities, provincial governments, industrial and corporate entities, and two big neighbouring countries announced support in the form of vital commodities and monetary aid to be used in delivering relief to all affected.

Humanitarian relief

Even as aid and relief trickle in, no one can be certain that it will be enough to meet the needs of all victims. Given the extent of the destruction, it would take a long time for government officials to restore them. It also reminds us that large-scale earthquake-stricken communities are in desperate need of assistance, including humanitarian relief to individuals in need of shelter, food, clean water, and medical care for afflicted ones.

Another aspect of the aid distribution to victims is judiciously delivering aid and relief materials to those in need. Following the 2015 earthquake and COVID-19 outbreak, a considerable amount of assistance came in the country. However, news also made headlines that individuals connected in the relief distribution, including leaders and others, engaged in unethical practises. Many items acquired from donor countries and agencies were sold or handed to those who did not require them. During that time, tarpaulins, zinc sheets, and other essential items intended for distribution to earthquake and COVID victims were syphoned off. Let us hope that this does not happen again.

According to recent reports, despite obtaining aid and relief materials, government agencies have not been cooperating efficiently to convey such goods to the afflicted zones, doubling the misery and pain of quake victims. People who have lost their homes and relatives are currently in desperate need of a makeshift tent homes to live in. Quick relief may be a means to cure the emotional scars and wounds caused by the terrible tremors.

After witnessing the devastation caused by Friday night's quake, one is forced to acknowledge that our country is highly prone to big scale quakes as it is located at the meeting point of two major tectonic plates, the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Because of its unique geology, Nepal is prone to earthquakes of variable size and, according to some seismologists, regions in Western Nepal have not seen a large tremor in over 500 years and may experience a large-scale earthquake anytime as vast seismic energy is accumulated beneath this region. It is commonly stated that it is not the earthquake that kills people, but the structures that people build do. People in this area of the country should be made aware of this fact, and adequate awareness, training and drills should be provided to mitigate the effects of the earthquake.

Large-magnitude earthquakes in Nepal have traditionally resulted in severe human casualties and infrastructure destruction. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, is a glaring example. Around 9,000 people were killed, 800,000 homes were damaged, and entire communities were destroyed. The devastation to the country's vulnerable infrastructure was considerable, with residences, schools, hospitals, heritage sites, and highways extensively damaged or destroyed. These earthquakes have disturbed the livelihoods of many poor people, many of whom rely on agriculture. Following the tremor in Western Nepal, our authorities must seek to create earthquake-resistant infrastructure in order to limit the harm caused by large-magnitude earthquakes. This includes retrofitting existing structures, constructing new ones following anti-quake housing codes, and enforcing strict building regulations. 

Public awareness

In the meanwhile, public awareness and education are critical in preparing populations for earthquakes. Initiatives to educate the public on earthquake safety, rescuea and evacuation, and first aid are critical. Regular drills should be conducted in schools and communities. Nepal is ranked 11th in the world by experts for its vulnerability to large-scale earthquakes. Nepal's rough terrain and inaccessible highland locations are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. Landslides produced by seismic activity are prevalent in these areas, causing extra devastation and impeding rescue and relief efforts. As a result, the country should build and strengthen catastrophe response and preparedness structures. This includes forming disaster response teams, stockpiling emergency supplies, and developing communication networks to allow for fast response and coordination. 

Local communities should be actively involved in earthquake preparedness initiatives, while training community leaders, developing local resilience, and including communities in planning and decision-making are all successful and necessary strategies. Meanwhile, as a least-developed country, Nepal should work with neighbouring countries, other countries, and international organisations to gain access to international cooperation and assistance to improve the country's preparedness and response capacity in earthquake and other disaster risk reduction. All of these efforts must focus on saving lives and delivering critical help to disaster victims.

(The author is former managing editor of this daily.)