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Looking back at 2015, hope is still alive in Nepal

Wednesday, 13 January 2016 14:04 GMT

2015 was a troubled year for Nepal, but there's hope for better times in 2016.

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* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

2015 was not a positive year for Nepal, as the aftermath of the twin earthquakes and the impact associated with the fuel crisis, turned the year into a tragic time.

As the western 2016 New Year approached – normally a time for fresh starts and new beginnings – there were very few signs that indicated that the situation in Nepal was improving. Nepalese people continue to struggle – particularly as the winter has set in – and remain waiting for support to meet their basic needs and regain their livelihoods.

The reflection and transition to change will be even more powerful when people celebrate the Nepali New Year this coming April – ironically, nearly coinciding with the one-year commemoration of the mega 7.8-magnitude earthquake.

Major incidents

The earthquakes and hundreds of aftershocks that followed changed the lives of Nepalis forever. The April and May quakes collectively took the lives of more than 9,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, leaving the country and its populace vulnerable and homeless.

The current situation in Nepal and the unofficial border blockade has had a significant impact on the supply and delivery of essential life-saving items – including food, grains, fuel and cooking gas – slowing down the recovery process and the transition back to normal. 

The fuel shortage restricted mobility and made day-to-day transportation a challenging feat. Without adequate fuel, there has been a delay in the delivery of winter items – like insulation material for schools and blankets and clothes for families.

The situation has had a major impact on children as families, particularly those in high-altitude areas, do not have adequate material to withstand the current winter temperatures. In other cases, some schools have been forced to close or reduce their classroom hours.

Working for better times

Though 2015 was a challenging one for Plan International in Nepal, the collective effort and support from our donors, fundraising offices, colleagues and various experts contributed effectiveness of our emergency work.

Our efforts focused on providing and safeguarding individuals’ rights to protection, dignity and survival, through the provision of temporary schools, emergency shelter and access to food and water.

Within six months of the April earthquake, we reached more than 255,000 people including 106,700 children, and aim to reach more through our interventions in the coming year.  Despite the challenges, Plan International in Nepal remains hopeful and positive as we continue to help children and their communities.

Wishes for 2016 

The people of Nepal aspire to see long-term peace and harmonious development in the days to come. Recovery and reconstruction is a top priority and we hope that the fuel crisis will end soon, lessening hardships for everyone. I believe this is possible through open dialogue and an understanding of the impact being made on children, who comprise 44% of the population in Nepal.

Each day is a new day and there is a strong belief that a new day brings hope. Despite the difficulties face in 2015, we have not lost hope.

As a teacher named Chakhra in Sindhuli told me, “Time doesn't remain the same, it moves and change is inevitable. Time will remove our hardships. We are waiting for that day and we are still hopeful.”

Visit plan-international.org/nepal to find out more. 

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