Nepal earthquake - Executive brief 30 April 2015

Highlights

• A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 March with dire humanitarian consequences: millions of people are affected in 39 districts of Western and Central Regions, out of 75 districts countrywide.
• Although agricultural damages have not yet been assessed, the impact on food security and agricultural livelihoods is expected to be very high.
  – The food security of the affected population is adversely impacted by the difficulties to access food.
  – Wheat and maize crops in the Central Mountain, Central Hills, Western Mountain and Western Hills Regions are likely to be most affected due to landslides and disruption of harvesting operations.
  – Losses to stored food and agricultural inputs, and damage to irrigation and drainage canals are likely high.
  – Around two-thirds of Nepalese have agriculture-based livelihoods, including many subsistence farmers.
• FAO co-leads the Food Security Cluster with the World Food Programme and is supporting government-led efforts to rapidly restore rural livelihoods and food production in Nepal.
• Partners of the Food Security Cluster seek USD 128 million within the Nepal Earthquake Flash Appeal, launched 29 April, to deliver critical food security assistance.
• Of this total, FAO seeks USD 8 million to deliver time-critical interventions:
  – ensure 2015 rice planting through the provision of crop production packages.
  – keep animals healthy and productive through the emergency provision of animal feed and veterinary supplies.
• The window of opportunity to assist vulnerable farming families is critical:
  – Farmers who miss the imminent planting season will be unable to harvest rice again until late 2016.
  – Further loss of livestock – which are costly to replace – leaves vulnerable families without a vital and continuous source of food and income.