Delivering hope

In western Nepal, two young women working under the Joint Recovery Action Plan are navigating the monsoon and challenging terrain to provide critical support to earthquake-affected families

UNICEF Nepal
a view of Sita Rawal walking across a bridge in the village of Chaur in Aathbiskot Municipality
UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay
04 September 2024
Reading time: 3 minutes

Jajarkot/Rukum West, Nepal: Social mobilizer Sita Rawal has spent the last few months trekking through flood-prone, landslide-riddled areas of Nalgadh Municipality in Jajarkot District. Her mission: to find the most vulnerable children, including those who have lost caregivers in the November 2023 earthquake.

“This is part of a vulnerability assessment where we are seeking to identify children who are in need of emergency assistance,” Sita says. “This includes support to encourage them to continue learning, as well as linkages to services as needed such as psychosocial, legal or medical support."

In cases where the child has lost parents, the team is also providing support to boost the family’s livelihood prospects.

Sita Rawal talking to a community member

UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay

Sita and her colleagues have been going door to door, visiting each household across the municipality to gather detailed information on their particular situation.

Reaching these children and families is not always easy, however, particularly during the monsoon. 

“We’ve had to struggle with flooding and landslides regularly,” Sita says. She explains that it can sometimes take them over a week just to cover homes in one ward because the roads have been washed away, forcing them to make long journeys on foot. 

Sita Rawal walking in the field
UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay

“The constant rain, and the risk of stones falling overhead, make this difficult,” Sita adds. 

Tough though the conditions certainly are, Sita’s focus is on the work at hand. Once the data on families is collected, it is then reviewed and endorsed by the relevant ward office and municipality, before the assistance can be processed. “The process takes time, but it is necessary to ensure that the support reaches those who need it the most,” Sita says

Kabita Bohara talking to community members in Radi Bazaar, Aathbiskot Municipality.
UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay
Kabita Bohara (third from right) interacting with local women in Radi Bazaar, Aathbiskot Municipality.

Meanwhile, in nearby Aathbisakot Municipality in Rukum West District, another young woman is addressing an equally crucial need in the wake of the earthquake: mental health support. Kabita Bohara, a psychosocial counselor with TPO Nepal, is working to provide psychosocial support to children and families.

Kabita Bohara talking to community members in Radi Bazaar, Aathbiskot Municipality.
UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay

Kabita spends her days traveling to communities and schools, offering sensitization sessions and individual counseling. 

“I go to different schools and communities to conduct these group healing sessions,” she says. “During these sessions, I try to teach participants about psychosocial wellbeing, stress management and self-care, and link them to appropriate services."

These sessions also allow her to identify and offer individual counselling to those seeking support. This is especially needed in these parts, where, according to Kabita, the earthquake’s impact continues to linger, causing anxiety and fear. 

"Many people are still traumatized, easily panicked and frightened. Some tell me that when it rains, they feel their heart racing,” she shares.

Kabita Bohara talking to a young girl

UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay

Through counselling, Kabita has been able to help both children and adults manage their anxiety. 

an image of hands
UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay

 

 “People are often nervous when we start talking, but I try to create a comfortable environment for them to share their emotions, and we often see significant improvements in just a few sessions,” she says. 

Both Sita and Kabita are part of a larger effort to rebuild lives following the earthquake. They are working under the Joint Recovery Action Plan (JRAP), launched in 2024 by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This joint programme is being implemented by four UN agencies – IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP – under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

As the monsoon continues to batter the hills of Jajarkot and Rukum West, Sita and Kabita press on with their work, driven by a shared commitment to the children and families they serve.

Sita Rawal and Kabita Bohara
UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay