Nepal earthquakes - Executive brief 29 June 2015

Highlights

• FAO is supporting Government-led efforts to address food security and livelihood needs in six districts most severely affected by the earthquakes: Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Rasuwa, Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk.
• The Nepal Food Security Cluster (FSC) recently released the ‘Agricultural Livelihood Impact Appraisal’ – an FSC exercise led by FAO – containing the first detailed analysis of the earthquakes’ impact on the crops, livestock, seed, farming tools and fertilizer of farming families in the six most affected districts.
• FAO supported the Post Disaster Needs Assessment, taking a lead role in the agriculture sector component.
• Key findings in the six most severely affected districts include:
  – Very significant impact on stored crops (particularly rice, maize, millet) and seed availability (particularly rice, millet).
  – Lower impact on standing crops (although expected to increase).
  – High agricultural tool loss; reduced household access to fertilizer; and steep reduction in farm labour availability.
  – Significant animal losses (cattle 16 percent; poultry 36 percent); animal health risks; and reduced production.
  – Damage to irrigation and other agricultural infrastructure.
• Within the revised Flash Appeal, FAO seeks USD 23.4 million to address critical needs, including to:
  – prevent post-harvest losses by providing immediate grain storage capacity.
  – ensure vegetable and winter wheat crop planting through the provision of crop production packages.
  – repair small-scale irrigation infrastructure.
  – keep animals healthy and productive through the emergency provision of animal feed, shelter and veterinary supplies.
  – reduce landslide risks by stabilizing, mapping and monitoring landslides.
• FAO has mobilized USD 4.3 million, thanks to contributions from Belgium, Italy, Norway and FAO.
• FAO is completing distribution of emergency crop and livestock support to some 90 000 households, including vegetable seeds, grain storage bags and animal feed supplements and rice seeds to some 40 000 families (completed).