Foreword

Strategic Assessment

The global terrorist threat continued to evolve rapidly in 2015, becoming increasingly decentralized and diffuse. Terrorist groups continued to exploit an absence of credible and effective state institutions, where avenues for free and peaceful expression of opinion were blocked, justice systems lacked credibility, and where security force abuses and government corruption went unchecked.

Nepal - The earthquake that rocked Nepal a year ago carried a high toll not just in human life and economic losses, but also in the large number of people – estimated to be in the thousands – left temporarily or permanently disabled through crush or other injuries.

The partial or complete destruction of over 1,000 healthcare facilities was another blow to those with pre-existing conditions, as well as those injured or disabled in the series of quakes.

Les premières prévisions de la FAO concernant la production mondiale de blé de 2016 font entrevoir une petite diminution, de moindres volumes étant attendus en Europe et aux États-Unis d’Amérique.

Ongoing conflicts and droughts exacerbate food needs

Food insecurity spreads as El Niño casts its shadow over Pacific and Caribbean states

2 June 2016, Rome - Drought linked to El Niño and civil conflict have pushed the number of countries currently in need of external food assistance up to 37 from 34 in March, according to a new FAO report.

1. Demographic Profile

0.66% Population Growth Rate
190 Maternal Mortality Rate (per 100,000 live births)
2.5 Total Fertility Rate
69.6 Female Life Expectancy
67.5 Male Life Expectancy
271,061 Total Population
0.89m/f Sex Ratio 2011.
75.14% Hindu
19.09% Buddhist
3.26% Christian
1.12% Muslim
0.63% Bon
55.3% Female Population
36% Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

2. Impact of Earthquake

2015 Earthquake Data

On 25 April 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Central and Western Regions of Nepal. The earthquake, which has been followed by a series of aftershocks, led to significant loss of life, injuries and damage of buildings and infrastructure. As of the final UN OCHA Humanitarian Bulletin in September 2015 , the Government reported that 8,891 people have died (55% of which were women) and 14,355 people have been injured. The number of destroyed homes is reported to be 605,254 and damaged homes 288,255.

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

At IRT, our mission and focus is to alleviate human suffering by aiding victims of disasters and building healthy communities. In times of disasters, we rely on partnerships with other international organizations to achieve maximum impact with your donations. In this way, we establish clear and appropriate roles, avoid duplication of efforts, and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of our response.

The month saw Venezuela’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis worsen amid heightened tensions between the government and opposition, a situation which could lead to state collapse and regional destabilisation. Another major setback in electing a new president in Haiti prompted fears of further civil unrest. In West Africa, deadly violence in central Mali and south-east Nigeria spiked, while a power struggle in Guinea-Bissau led to a dangerous standoff.

May 29, 2016, Kathmandu, Nepal—As the fastest growing region in the world, South Asia’s path toward ending hunger and malnutrition will have global impacts far beyond the continent. The Global Food Policy Report, the flagship publication of the International Food Policy Research Institute, provides an in-depth look at major food policy developments and events in the past year, and examines key challenges and opportunities for the coming year.

Between November 2015 and April 2016, ACTED implemented a post-earthquake relief project focused on winterization, masons training and technical support in Okhaldhunga and Ramechhap districts, with funding from UKaid from the UK government.

A six-month intervention in underserved Okhaldhunga and Ramechhap districts to help populations go through the harsh Nepalese winter

This brief outlines the results of a survey conducted in 2013 evaluating children’s nutritional and health status in the five districts of the Karnali Zone in Nepal, with a special focus on the influence of the child grant program.

The Government of Nepal has been implementing the child grant program since 2010, with the objective of reducing child malnutrition. The program is currently universal in five remote districts of the Karnali Zone and targeted at poor Dalit households nationwide.

• The pre-monsoon has been active across Nepal, particularly in the far west, west and central regions due to the weakening effect of El Nino. Heavy rain has already triggered landslides and floods killing 12 people and six missing in far west and western regions.

The CDAC Network’s research, ‘Are You Listening Now?’ considers whether, in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquakes in April and May 2015, people were getting information that was useful and relevant to their needs. The report emphasises their experiences rather than evaluating communicating with communities’ projects. Affected communities were consulted about their information needs immediately after the earthquakes and seven months later (in November/December 2015).

UNITED NATIONS, May 27 2016 (IPS) - Around the world girls are struggling to stay in school when their menstrual hygiene needs are forgotten or ignored, yet the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and education sectors have remained reluctant to address the issue.

Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated on May 28, aims to raise awareness of the fundamental role that MHM plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential in areas such as education.

By Glenn Dolcemascolo

NEW YORK, 27 May 2016 – Indigenous peoples have spotlighted the need to take their concerns into account when it comes to reducing disaster risk, notably for members of their communities with disabilities.

The devastating wildfires in Canada and the earthquakes that have shaken Ecuador are just the latest reminders of how hazards affect indigenous peoples and also of their role in preparing for, preventing and responding to disasters.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
• Heavy rain has been affecting several areas of the country, especially the northern provinces, over the past few days, causing floods and landslides.
• As of 25 May, 1 550 people were displaced and over 520 houses were partially or fully damaged. Media also reported one dead in Santiago.
• Over the next 24 h moderate to locally heavy rain may still affect Dominican Republic, especially the areas already affected.

In Nepal, since August 2015 and with the International Organization for Migrations (IOM)’s support, ACTED has assumed a major coordination role for the improvement of living conditions in displacement sites.

In the aftermath of earthquakes that struck Nepal in 2015, half a million people lost their shelters and many did not have any option but to establish into camps. Since then, they have been living in basic shelters, with little access to WASH facilities, foodstuffs and economic opportunities.

Posted by Evelyn Rodriguez-Perez on Tuesday, May 24th 2016

Education is a core component of a humanitarian response. However, too often education remains severely underfunded given competing priorities. But without it, children — and girls in particular — are at increased risk of abuse, exploitation, disempowerment or worse.

While working in international education for more than 30 years, I’ve seen how natural disasters, famines and wars can sideline education.