Gorkha, with a population of more than 271,000, is one of the worst-affected districts.1 The epicenter of the earthquake was in Brapok, 15km from Gorkha town. As of 6 May, 412 people have been reported killed and 1,034 injured. In the southern part of the district, food has been provided, but field observations indicate that the food supplied might not be enough for the actual population in the area. Several VDCs in the mountainous areas of Gorkha are yet to be reached by humanitarian assistance. There are no roads in these northern areas, only footpaths. The level of destruction within the district and even within VDCs varies widely, as does the availability of food. A humanitarian hub has been set up at the Chief District Officer’s (CDO) premises in Gorkha town.
As with other mountain areas of Nepal, Gorkha contains popular locations for foreign trekkers. This provides an important source of income through the employment of local people as guides, porters and in guest houses. With many trails blocked by landslides, the income-generating opportunities are limited. In addition the trails are the only access routes for people and goods to move in and out of the remote areas. Clearing these trails and using them to provide relief materials and services is a priority.
Gorkha’s population is geographically wide-spread, with small settlements and villages scattered in between deep valleys and mountains. Accessibility to mountainous areas was already very limited before the earthquake, due to the topography and poor road conditions (LCT 28/04/2015). The majority of houses are mud-bonded and constructed of bricks or stone (Nepal Census 2011). Wood is the main source of energy for cooking (Nepal Census 2011). According to the 2011 census, 72.9 % of the population in Gorkha lived in households with latrines, and 65.4% had access to improved drinking water sources. Almost 45% of the population are under 19 years old (Nepal Census 2011)
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Publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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(2015
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Type / Script:
Bulletin or Poster
in English
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Keywords:
NATURAL DISASTERS, EARTHQUAKES, DISASTER-PRONE AREAS, DISASTER RELIEF, DISASTER VICTIMS, NATURAL PHENOMENA, SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, SEISMIC ACTIVITY, EARTHQUAKE ZONES, NATURAL PHENOMENA, GEOLOGICAL FAULTS, LANDFORMS, PLATE TECTONICS, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, INTERNATIONAL RELIEF, AGRICULTURE, PROTECTION, COORDINATION, HEALTH, PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, DISTRICT PROFILE
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Thematic Group:
UNOCHA
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Humanitarian Coordination and Affair
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Thesaurus:
13.02.00
- Disaster Prevention, Preparedness And Relief
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Reference Link:
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