Aasna Sthapit, RYN 2024 Fellow
Nepal, a country known for its mountainous landscapes, multiethnic culture, and ancient history, is at high risk to climate change and natural hazards. Province 3, or Bagmati Province, is particularly disaster prone. People living in the region have faced many challenges, including recurring floods and disastrous earthquakes, yet have managed to show incredible flexibility and resilience. Preserving safety and quality of life for residents of this area requires an appreciation of both basic built environment principles and the application of practical adaptation strategies to protect human health and the environment.
Earthquakes and floods have historically had the most significant impacts on the residents of Bagmati Province. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck on April 25, 2015, was among the deadliest occurrences. Almost 22,000 people were injured in this calamity, which also left hundreds of thousands homeless. Nearly 9,000 people died as a result (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.). Survivors experienced severe psychological effects and household well-being losses because many of them had lost homes, loved ones, and security. Another serious hazard to the area is flooding. Over 1.7 million people in Nepal, including those in Bagmati Province, were impacted by the devastating flooding that occurred during the 2017 monsoon season (United Nations, 2017). These floods caused long-term economic and social problems by destroying infrastructure, farms, and residential buildings.
After the aftermath of natural disasters, the primary focus is usually on giving physical relief and restoring infrastructure. On the other hand, survivors' psychological effects are equally important and need immediate attention. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a strategy that aims to reduce the immediate suffering caused by traumatic situations while also promoting short- and long-term resilience. PFA focuses on the ideas of comfort, care, and support, in contrast to standard mental health interventions, and it was developed for non-mental health professionals to provide. PFA consists of a series of steps designed to assist people in adapting to life after a disaster. These actions are directed by three basic principles: look, listen, and link.
The first principle, Look, is recognizing people in need of assistance by studying their behavior and emotional state. Helpers can identify those who might need urgent aid by being watchful and alert in order to spot signs of distress. The second principle, Listen, emphasizes the significance of lending a sympathetic ear and enabling others to communicate their emotions and worries. In a supportive setting where survivors feel heard and understood, active listening plays a vital role. The third principle, Link, is about putting people in touch with the systems and resources they need to get by, like social services, health care, and local support groups. This ensures that those impacted by disasters get all the assistance they require to meet their different necessities.
From February 15 to 17, I got the opportunity to take part in the "School Club-based Resilient Community Model Project Psychological First Aid" program in Bagmati province. Seventy people, including college students and teachers, attended the training, which was led by Ms. Miyuki Akasaka from Save the Children Japan with the goal of improving PFA abilities. She also introduced a new component “Prepare”, which means to be prepared before any disaster strikes. The program also helped prepare everyone for the upcoming training sessions which were going to be provided to young students.
Around fifty teachers and sixty students participated in PFA and earthquake preparedness exercises during the training sessions at Namuna Machhindra School in Lalitpur. We practiced risk assessment using maps, earthquake awareness graphic stories, and building safety drills. One particularly memorable experience was working together with Japanese students to create innovative tools that incorporated the four key PFA components: Prepare, Look, Listen, and Link.
The participants, including myself, developed a better awareness of earthquake preparedness and the significance of providing safe areas, among other positive outcomes. The training gave us the
tools to help those in need, demonstrating the program's success in building a resilient community.
As the climate and natural hazards continue to escalate and intensify in Nepal, they will exacerbate psychological and household well-being challenges for the people of Bagmati Province. By giving community members the tools to provide both practical and emotional assistance, programs such as the PFA training program promote resilience and adaptation to solve real-world human challenges post-disaster.
Natural disasters and climate change continue to pose concerns for Bagmati Province. Programs such as the PFA training program, which give community members practical and emotional support skills, encourage resilience and adaptation. These initiatives support the long-term stability, economic productivity, and unity of the community while also assisting people in overcoming their present problems. By teaching PFA principles and developing a strong preparedness culture, we can empower communities to tackle the future with courage and hope. To address the larger scale challenges of earthquakes, landslides, and riverine floods, strategic government investment in physical infrastructure resilience is most urgent.
About the Author:
Aasna Sthapit is a local resident of Kathmandu and is pursuing her degree at Trinity International College in Kathmandu, Nepal. She is interested in psychology and sociology and aspirations to become a psychologist and social worker. Inspired by climate change awareness videos, she aims to learn more and spread awareness through the fellowship.
References
Britannica. (n.d.). Nepal earthquake of 2015. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nepal-earthquake-of-2015
Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission, & United Nations Nepal. (2017). Nepal flood 2017: Post-flood recovery needs assessment. Relief Web. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-flood-2017-post-flood-recovery-needs-assessment
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