What Oxfam is Doing
Mountainous terrain, poor infrastructure, and extreme weather conditions have made for formidable challenges in helping survivors of the October 8, 2005, earthquake. Following its initial emergency response -- which included providing shelter and clean water—Oxfam is now helping survivors to rebuild their lives as they return to their homes and communities.
When the temblor struck, Oxfam mobilized immediately to begin delivering relief services. By mid-March, we were working in 207 camps and villages and had reached 926,906 people with one or more types of help, including shelter, water and sanitation, public health outreach, emergency household supplies such as buckets and washing bowls, and job assistance. While many of those camps have closed as people returned to their villages, tens of thousands of survivors are still living in temporary shelters or with relatives.
Water and Sanitation
The earthquake ruined the water supply systems in villages across thousands of square miles of mountainous terrain. Heavy monsoon rains and subsequent landslides in August 2006 added to the survivors' problems by sweeping away pipelines and other installations. Oxfam is now helping to rehabilitate some of those systems and provide latrines in remote villages. We are also offering public health training for health workers, teachers, and community volunteers.
Getting People Back to Work
Oxfam has helped nearly 60,000 people with the recovery of their livelihoods. When the quake hit, many people lost the livestock on which they depend for survival. Oxfam's livelihood programs include distributing goats, livestock shelters, vegetable seeds, and animal feed. In addition, Oxfam has been providing cash-for-work opportunities for women and men, as well as distributing cash and vouchers, and supporting village traders to rebuild their businesses and boost local markets.
Working with Policy Makers
Oxfam is also lobbying to help develop positive policy changes on issues such as informing people about their rights and the use of appropriate building materials in the reconstruction effort. We are supporting coordination among aid agencies, and are working with government and non-government organizations to keep the recovery on course.
