You must have heard about the recent floods in the terai region of Nepal. The name of the district is Sunsari where more than 50,000 people have been displaced and villages have been indundated. Relief efforts have reached the survivors and many networks are extending their support to the people. However there has been less efforts for Gender Sensitive Relief Efforts and the NAWHRDs are trying to address those needs ( Source: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79940)

First of all, we would like to express our gratitude to all our friends who managed to come for the Gender Sensitive Relief Efforts and Strategy meeting yesterday in WOREC office and to those friends who called up stating that they were not able to come however showed their support and solidarity for this cause.

The meeting convened with sharing the field assessment reports that were forwarded by the WOREC office in Morang and Sunsari districts. The report was well written stating the need of a gender sensitive relief efforts and how such efforts need to be distributed as soon as well. There has been extensive relief efforts by government, NGOs and INGOs however there has not been any specific gender sensitive relief efforts and this needs to be stressed and addressed. It was also shared the permanent support camps have been set up in 4 areas near the other camps set up by various agencies and mobile support camps in 3 areas ( the mobile camps will move around in around 3 – 4 days)

It focused on the practical needs for pregnant women (such as nutritious food, dry mats to sleep), young girls (possibility of gender based violence and they shared a case about a young girl who was almost sexually abused but she managed to escape), need for immediate psycho socio couselling etc.

Dr. Renu Rajbhandari, Coordinator of the National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders shared the information by the Women Human Rights Defenders in Sunsari districts who have been actively participating in the relief efforts. Some of the Women Human Rights Defenders were also the survivors of this disaster. They are collecting funds to support the survivors especially women.

Hence, the forum then collectively decided to support with the following specific items. These items need to be bought as to meet the practical needs of women.

a) Nutritious food for pregnant and lactating women:

It was shared that nutritious food such as eggs and milk needs to be provided to the women hence the pool of resources collected can be used to buy the supplies but also we can request the  various agencies distributing food supplies to direct to such groups as well.

Besides that other important food items such as oil, sugar etc will be bought as well.

b)  Utensils:

Pots, Pans, Ladels, Plates, Glasses etc.

c) Chinese blankets and Trekker's mat

It has been found out that pregnant women and lactating women have not been able to get a dry floor mat except that they are sleeping on plastic that is cold and can case pneumonia etc. Hence Chinese blankets and trekker's mat will be bought. Around 10 Chinese blankets and 50 trekker's mats have been collected and then will be distributed.

d) Bed Sheets/Covers

The bed sheets and covers will insulate against the cold floors and then it can be used for multi purpose as well.

e) Summer clothes ( only cotton sarees, blouse, petticoats) and fresh cotton underwear

As terai belts are hot and humid and women are only comfortable wearing cotton sarees then only such clothes will be distributed. The sarees can be multi purpose and even used for protection during menstruation period.

Also fresh underwear need to bought for women,

f) Clothes for young children

Summer clothes for young children.

Likewise psycho socio counseling are been supported in all the support camps. INGOs such as CARE Nepal have also looked into possibility of recruiting their pool of psycho socio counselors.

We have also managed to collect around 11,000 rs from individual contribution.

Likewise organizations such as CAED and others will tap into their district networks for this support.

The network will also request private airline companies and others to transport the materials.

Hence, we would like to request everyone to support for this gender sensitive relief efforts which is essential and significant. We need to look into disaster from gender lenses and even though this may be the first initiative in Nepal, this will help in addressing the needs of women.

Please support in whichever possible way as this is our responsibility to extend our hands in such disastrous situation for our own sisters.

We will be collecting the supplies that can be distributed in WOREC Nepal, Kathmandu or if you want to send in the supplies to Sunsari then please leave the supplies in WOREC Sunsari office.

Please contact us if you need further information.

Contact Numbers are: 2123124, 5005673

We would like to thank you very much in advance.

Looking forward to your support and solidarity.

Dr. Renu Rajbhandari

Chairperson

National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders