Disaster & Climate Change Resilience
2,000
people trained in climate change, disaster risk reduction and response plans
Thousands
provided with emergency relief and assistance as they recover from flooding, landslide and fires
Nepal is seriously at risk of increasing disasters and other impacts of climate change.
Two-thirds of Nepal’s population depend on agriculture and the monsoon rains for life and livelihoods. Climate change and disasters are having a huge impact on poor farmers and vulnerable communities, pushing many people deeper into poverty.
With limited resources and infrastructure, Nepal faces significant challenges responding to disasters and changes in climate. Monsoon rainfall has become more unpredictable, melting snow and glacial ice at an increasing rate. There are fiercer droughts and stronger storms.
INF Australia supports programs that provide emergency response and build community resilience in a changing climate.
Resilience and response to disasters
Nepal’s geography and poverty make many areas extremely vulnerable to the shocks and impacts of natural disasters. We work through local partners and churches to provide much-needed support at these times.
In the aftermath of disasters this year, including recent landslides and floods, INF has:
- provided emergency relief supplies of shelter, medicine, food, hygiene and sanitation kits
- supported communities to develop their own disaster response programs and carry out risk assessments
- encourage communities to adopt livelihood techniques that will help them adapt to changing climate. These include building smokeless stoves, harnassing local materials to produce better fertilisers and learning about new irrigation techniques
Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change and a range of natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, landslides and droughts.
In Rolpa in Nepal’s western hills and Kapilvastu in the southern plains, INF supported and facilitated local government and communities to undertake mitigation and adaptation actions, to plan and prepare for their eventual need to react to disaster events as First Responders.