1. DIPECHO Brief
N E P A L
NUMBER 2 JUNE 2008
NEPAL DIPECHO BRIEF – The “Nepal DIPECHO background on the seven DIPECHO projects active
Brief” is a periodic newsletter of the seven in Nepal. This second edition hopes to show some
organizations currently carrying out DIPECHO of the initiatives currently being carried out in the
funded projects in Nepal. It aims to give regular area of early warning, particularly where partners
updates on project’s progress, with periodic themed are collectively contributing to greater awareness,
editions. While the work of the projects is understanding and promotion of this key issue.
supported by the European Commission, through Future additions of this brief will focus on other
its Humanitarian Aid department, the views issues and themes central to the promotion of
expressed in the brief are those of the partner community based approaches to disaster risk
organizations alone. reduction in Nepal, but as these briefs can only
cover our work in the broadest brush strokes please
“Early Warnings: Saving Lives” The first feel free to contact partners directly for more
edition of “Nepal DIPECHO Brief” gave some basic information. Please read on……………..
COMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY
INITIATIVES THROUGH CREATING
EWS LINKAGES
ActionAid is working with 14 communities in five districts, helping
people to reduce their vulnerabilities to flood, earthquake, landslide,
fire and other forms of natural calamity. Within the project small
scale early warning systems have been designed to inform people in
advance where ever possible, with such advance warning, along with
the life skill training and improved organizational capacity, expected
to reduce disaster impacts among vulnerable communities.
In each of the communities, a public address system is being
provided, connected to radio. DMCs (Disaster Management
Committees) in each community will listen to the news and weather
forecasts through local radio stations, getting regular information Rai tole, Hetauda: The flag in the background is to
on impending concerns and calamities. These radio broadcasts, show direction of wind… small steps to control fire…
through the public address system, will be linked to listener’s clubs -
dedicated teams from within the communities - who are responsible ActionAid also has
for both gathering and disseminating information. The portable provision to support Disaster
public address systems will allow the DMC members to immediately Information Centres at district
move around their respective areas, announcing news on the level, in collaboration with the
environmental conditions and enabling communities to take advance district administration offices,
measures, depending upon the likely severity of the impending with these centres expected to
disaster. In fire prone areas, small measures such as erecting wind- receive, analyse and disseminate
flags are expected to help communities to better identify the direction advance information on disaster
of the wind and hence take the necessary measures needed to prevent situations, particularly during
and stop the spread of fire. the periodic ‘disaster seasons’
such as the monsoon.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
HUMANITARIAN AID

2. SAMADHAN-II either sitting in a community
gathering place or sometimes
While putting effort into enhancing the capacities of walking throughout the
vulnerable communities, through implementing community. This practice has
Community Based Disaster Risk Management existed in the communities for
approaches (CBDRM) Care’s SAMADHAN-II project is generations, with people attuned
also emphasizing the importance of early warning. to the sound of Narasingha and
The communities CARE Nepal works with in Doti and Kailali its importance.
are particularly poor and marginalized and as such capacity building, The Narasingha man is paid
be it through training, awareness raising, carrying out mitigation in either food or money and the
measures or enabling communities to establish early warning system communities plan to link this to
(EWS) has been prioritised. a Community Emergency Fund,
In the far west while Kailali suffers most from floods and a monthly saving activity to meet
inundation, Doti faces landslide and flash floods. In both project any costs incurred due to disaster
districts Disaster Risk Reduction Committees (DRRC) have been or to meet the unmet needs of
formed, trained in CBDRM with defined roles and responsibilities. A the communities during a post
total of 328 DRRC members have already been trained and equipped disaster situations.
with basic knowledge on preparedness, with importance being given The Narasingha man is
to the issue of EWS. Under a Schools Education Programme 57 now a members of the DRRC,
teachers have also been trained, with these now taking class room playing his age old role, but now
sessions on preparedness covering 4,740 students in 19 schools. conveying added information on
CSSD (Conscious Society for Social Development) & EDC disaster preparedness and Early
(Equality Development Centre), CARE’s implementing partners in Warning Systems.
Kailali & Doti have been instrumental in broadcasting Radio
programmes on CBDRM, with the programmes covering important
preparedness and awareness messages, seasonal disaster news, and
views of community members on disaster preparedness.
While trying to improvise and systematise the coping
mechanisms of communities the thrust of the programme has been
to promote and use indigenous mechanism for EWS where ever
possible. The Use of Narasingha (a local musical instrument) is a
popular way to disseminate messages across communities, with the
practice being that whenever there is an urgent message to be
disseminated the designated person plays the Narasingha repeatedly, Narasingha man playing the indigenous instrument,
Narasingha)
UNDP/DRRNLN – involved in Early Warning disasters through all available
II: HOW A FEW Systems as such, but rather tries media, be this radio, television or
SECONDS CAN to highlight their importance, other sources and, accordingly,
SAVE YOUR LIFE thus reducing risk through take adequate and appropriate
BEFORE A increasing general awareness. measures such as moving to
DISASTER! Accordingly, in all its mass media higher ground and/or other
awareness generation places of safety.
The fact that an campaigns, the project has made What it boils down to in
effective Early Warning System, it a point, especially with regard the end is that what ever kind of
especially in areas that are prone to floods, to draw attention to disaster is faced, if an Early
to natural hazards, can save the fact that people need to get Warning System is to save lives,
precious lives is irrefutable. With early warning and improved it should be efficient and fully
an efficient EWS in place, and information about forthcoming known to vulnerable
vulnerable communities communities
adequately sensitized about its through adequate
operation and the measures they sensitization and
need to take before, say, an capacity building
imminent flood, a huge in the areas of
difference can be made. The timely response
difference between saving or and evacuation.
losing a life. Those few
Having said this, UNDP/ precious seconds
Disaster Risk Reduction at the before a disaster
National Level in Nepal can make all the
(DRRNLN) – II is not directly difference !

3. NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT partners and wider stakeholders,
US…… and other more general
recommendations on
Early warnings allow communities to inclusiveness for use in project
identify and recognize the first signs of a risk event, identify actions implementation and community
that can mitigate the negative impacts of an event, avoid unpleasant mobilization activities. The
surprises and reactive decision-making, help to plan appropriate guiding principals behind these
programme strategies for different scenarios, and assist people in are that;
making the right decisions in reacting to an emergency situation. People with disabilities should
Early warning systems are an important part of DRR, ensuring be encouraged to
community safety and preparedness. But who are the most vulnerable participate.People with
groups at the community level ? Sure, the answer will be pregnant disabilities should be consulted
women, children, senior elders and people with disabilities, but it is while preparing evacuation/
often seen that PwDs (People with Disabilities) are missed from the early warning systems, to make
list. They are less visible, often have additional, complicated, sure that their specific needs
individual needs and when considered are often regarded as merely are addressed.
passive beneficiaries or recipients. But EWS need to be inclusive if we
People with disabilities are
want to achieve comprehensive coverage and awareness and be better
Involved in early warning task
prepared for emergencies. It is critical that PwDs themselves are asked
forces.
their opinions and needs, and about the best ways for them to hear,
see and understand early warnings. Early warning systems and
The Handicap International, Nepal DIPECHO Project is plans must be developed which
developing recommendations on inclusive EWS for DIPECHO meet the diverse needs of
different categories of people
with disabilities within the
community.
Hall marks of an inclusive
Early Warning System ?
An auditory signal system/
alarms; Posters written with large
characters and color contrasts;
visual signal systems to back up
auditory ones – i.e. use of bright
flags, large symbols, turning
warning lights off-on frequently,
big pictures, clear and brief
announcements by identified
workers and volunteers.
EARLY WARNING - AN INTEGRATED
APPROACH
Corps’ approach is to build an
Mercy Corps’s operational sites lie along the Mohana River where effective, integrated system that
floods represent one of the greatest hazards to the population. The includes a) knowledge of risks
Mohana River and its 3 tributaries have a total catchments area of faced, b) technical monitoring
approximately 1400 km2, and regularly flood the adjacent areas and and warning, c) building an
erode river banks. These cause immense losses every two or three information dissemination
years, significantly affecting the livelihoods of households in the area system, and d) increasing public
and occasionally forcing entire villages to relocate to safer areas. Prior awareness.
to the project intervention no systematized flood warning existed
and people relied on their ‘instincts”, visible storms up stream, and Knowledge of risk: Disaster
smells and sounds related to their experiences of floods in earlier Preparedness Committees (DPC),
years. community stakeholders,
Early warning systems (EWS) are one of the key tools the project teachers, partner staff, and VDC
is using to reduce the vulnerability of communities, equipping level stake holders have already
individuals and communities so that they can act in sufficient time attended disaster risk
and in an appropriate manner to avoid flood related risks. Mercy management trainings.

4. Technical monitoring and warning service/Method: The project is being implemented
a) To determine critical rainfall indicators, historic data from the in close coordination and with
Department of Hydrology and Metrology (DH&M) is being contribution from district and
correlated with past years’ flood records; local level stakeholders and in
b) Calculation of Lag time (Time to reach a certain point) of flood is coordination with DH&M to
being analysed to assure timely evacuation ensure effectiveness and
c) Real time monitoring of water levels will be used, using local sustainability. The project also
recording stations (rainfall and staff gauge) upgraded by the aims to link the systems
project. Upstream recorders will measure rainfall and water levels established with the DH&M
every 3 hours. When the river surpasses its critical flood level the forecasting division, mainly so
recorders will notify the local emergency committee. information can be shared on
issues such as the arrival date of
Dissemination of warning: Flood warnings will be transmitted in the the monsoon, duration of rain,
local language via local radio stations, telephone and/or security flood estimates, etc. Most of the
networks. Focal people in the communities will then sound sirens existing hydrological (4) and
and drums to further alert people, with the estimated total reach of metrological (6) stations in the
the early warning system being up to 130,000 inhabitants. project area will be incorporated
into the EWS, with some (4) new
Public awareness and preparedness: ongoing awareness campaigns in locations needing to be
schools, households and via radio programmes, combined with established for the monitoring of
community disaster management plans and EWS test simulations water levels. Ultimately Mercy
will make people aware of the EWS and the proper responses advised Corps hopes to expand the
when the system is sounded. system, through a local network,
to cover the entire watershed.
READING THE SIGNS, ENSURING THE
CRITICAL “LAST MILE” ...
whereby villagers take turns in
How early does early warning come about ? watching the flow and depth of
Can it be calculated by the tick of the clock, the river during the monsoon
the passing of days, or the waxing of the and warn other by using a brass
moon ? trumpet).
Through the VCA process
In disaster risk reduction, early warning and community disaster
comes not as a prophecy but as something preparedness planning,
succinct based on the patterns of the weather, knowledge of the events communities examine the
of the past, and qualified by scientific data; all supported by relay patterns of hazard events and
mechanisms on the ground. identify hazard areas. This
Early warning requires not only the ‘gadgets’ but also the enables them to create a blue
organic system that is needed to ensure that messages get through print of events and scenarios to
and are understood. They also require the disaster preparedness plans prepare for, and ways of
that enable orderly evacuation to safety. responding to hazard events.
Through the Community Based Multi-Hazard Risk Reduction Structural mitigation projects
(CBMHRR) Programme, the Danish Red Cross (DRC) provides form part of this, while
technical support to the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) to capture Information, Education,
and enhance best practices at the community level. The experience Communication (IEC) materials
of DRC interventions in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, where CDRTs and public awareness
(Community Disaster Response Teams) form the human link between programmes in the communities
high-tech gadgetry and community level early warning mechanisms, provide basic knowledge of the
affirms the need for a localized and practical approach in early characteristics of the hazards
warning. prevalent in their areas.
Although the CBMHRR Programme in Nepal does not have a All these programme
direct focus on achieving early warning set-up, the Programme activities contribute towards
nevertheless ensures that mechanisms are in place in target enhancing indigenous
communities. These include the organizing of DP (Disaster knowledge and ensuring early
Preparedness) units to function as the critical “last mile” link in the warning messages are relayed
early warning relay. This role requires constant monitoring of news, and understood – reading the
through transistor radios, and utilising existing indigenous warning signs and ensuring the critical
systems - the Katuwal (Kutuwal is a local system of early warning ‘last mile’.

5. CLOSING THE CIRCLE: MAKING
THE LINKS lack of equipment) or structural
issues (such as bureaucratic
While a lot of interest has been shown impasses) impede progress. By
in the technologies Practical Action involving the media in all of
intends to use in their EWS the organisation has been keen to these activities, full transparency
emphasise that these are secondary considerations which will actually has been achieved, with the
have a minor influence on whether systems succeed or fail. added benefit that major
In fact Practical Action has discovered that in Banke and Bardia contributors to the project can
many of the components of the system exist already, the various not renege on commitments !
elements merely needing to be joined up for the links to be Having now over come
established. In upstream locations DH&M (Department of Hydrology most of the bureaucratic and
& Meteorology) stations already exist, logging river levels and technical barriers the same
reporting by HF radio to regional and national DH&M stations; at approach is being used to link all
district level emergency services are committed to supporting EWS the key individuals in the system,
activities, with the resources necessary to mobilise large scale bringing together community
evacuations when required; at the community level individuals are representatives, DH&M gauge
crying out for information, with the ability and willingness to reading staff, emergency services
organise collectively for swift and coordinated response. staff and “emergency room”
With this in mind Practical Action has been concentrating on personnel at both district, gauge
bringing the various stakeholders together, in as many forums as station and community level. By
possible. To this end coordinated upstream visits have been made, in making these contacts personal
both districts, by teams representing the police, army, Red Cross, it is hoped it will build a greater
district authorities, DH&M and, critically, the media. These have taken degree of human responsibility
place so collective understanding can be created on what resources into the system, which Practical
already exist, where gaps exist, who is in the best place to plug these Action sees as critical.
and where bottlenecks, either in terms of physical impediments (i.e.
Kadga Bahadur Rawat Chhetri, gauge reader at Bagasoti, interacting with local media staff
This information bulletin has been produced by DIPECHO project in Nepal with support from European Commission under
its Humanitarian Aid department The contents and information has been provided by Peter Crawford (Practical Action
department. Practical Action);
Ulla Dons (Mercy Corps Rene Jinon (Danish Red Cross Sanjukta Sahany (CARE Nepal Irina Ulmasova (Handicap
Mer Corps);
Mercy Danish Cross); CARE Nepal); Handicap
International and P. V. Krishnan (ActionAid To know more about individual projects, contact respective project managers
International) ActionAid).
ActionAid
at peterc@practicalaction.org; ulla@mos.com.np (Mercy Corps); drcdm@mos.com.np (Red Cross);dppm@hi-nepal.org
(Handicap International); sanjukta@carenepal.org, om.mulmi@undp.org and Krishnan.pv@actionaid.org