By Staff Member | IsraAID Nepal
Severe floods following the monsoon
Hundreds of thousands of Nepalese citizens are affected by the recent floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in several districts across Nepal.
On August 17, IsraAID’s 15-person First Response and Assessment team deployed to flood affected areas in the Terai, Nepal's south. Six million people across 17 districts have been affected by the floods, including 120 dead and 35 unaccounted for. Dangerous flooding remains in many areas, and the risk of waterborne disease is high. IsraAID’s team, one of the first on the ground, is addressing health and psychosocial issues.
Laxmi, who lives in the affected area shared: "Many social organizations visited my village in the last decade but I have to say, I never saw this kind of hardworking team, working for the people of my village with so much dedication. Medical Camps without any break in middle and the whole team moving to Islands in boats of Koshi with courage and determination was never seen before"
The health team is comprised of doctors, pharmacists, and public health officers. Their work includes assessment, medical interventions, and water and sanitation activities. They are also distributing free medicine and water purification tablets.
The psychosocial team consists of graduates of IsraAID’s various training programs, along with our MHPSS coordinator. They will assess the situation, and provide Psychosocial First Aid (PFA).
HoneyAID Updates
July 19 marked the opening ceremony for training in our third HoneyAID community, Kushadevi (Kavre) with our local partner. 76 women will receive a ten-day intensive training on beekeeping, and 2-3 beehives each. The hives are populated by the Apis Cerana bee, a local bee that is indigenous to high altitude areas in Nepal. The Apis Cerana is a special bee, and the marketing value of the honey it produces is three times higher than normal honey. Using Apis Cerana’s also helps maintain local biodiversity, protect Nepali bee populations against diseases and natural phenomena, and improve Nepali food security.
So far, 215 women have been trained and equipped under IsraAID’s budget, and the project will continue until 400 women are able beekeepers. 85 additional farmers have also received IsraAID’s training, expertise, and equipment.
HoneyAID women receive numerous benefits from the project. The women will be able to supplement their normal household income, thus helping their families and elevating their status in the home. Prem Lama, the chair of the HoneyAID project, says that beekeeping is a form of therapy in itself, and teaches important lessons about coming together to make a final product. You can learn more about the HoneyAID project by reading our intern’s blog -> israaidnepalintern.wordpress.com
When asked about HoneyAID, Ranja, a 60-year-old earthquake survivor from Salmitar village in Nepal, smiled and said, “I look at the beehive every day and see my bees working so hard and together as a team. That gives me the inspiration and power to do the same myself. After the earthquake, we were numb and passive but the bees never stopped working and building their house together.” Ranja and the other HoneyAID participants are inspired by their work and have bonded closer together as a community.
We are excited to watch the HoneyAID project continue to improve, grow, and serve more women and more communities. We are also more than excited to slowly transition into retail honey sales, so you can all taste our local, unique, delicious, and empowering honey!
Youth on the rise
IsraAID Nepal is happy to introduce 28 young high school students, who will be receiving two years of educational scholarship support under our Education and Livelihood Support Program named “youth on the rise”. In continuation to its earthquake response in Nepal, IsraAID is supporting 28 parentless or semi-orphan youth who have been heavily affected by the Earthquake of 2015 through educational scholarship to complete their college +2 studies.
IsraAID believes that the educational support provided to these youths will lead them to the path of creativity, knowledge and wisdom to transform the future of Nepalese society.
Your support keeps our program going – donate today!
Thank you!
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