Providing water and sanitation for earthquake survivors

After the earthquake, the survivors suffered again.

Water, sanitation and hygiene had vanished, especially for those living along the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley and other rural regions. Sipadole in Bhaktapur district was one of the devastated villages, its toilets flattened and water sources dry.

April’s disaster ruptured water pipes and tanks, damaging the health of local people, one of whom, 16-year-old Arun Tamang, said, “We were having a tough time with health and hygiene until World Vision delivered hygiene kits.”

Water, sanitation and hygiene had vanished, especially for those living along the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley.

With the kits including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and towels, plus buckets, jugs and water purification treatments, the teenager adds, “These hygiene kits were necessary for the earthquake victims because our stuff was buried under collapsed mud-stone houses.”

The earthquake wrecked the top floor of Arun’s house, including the toilet. For many days afterwards, the family had to use their neighbours’ toilet.

Currently, the household is constructing a new latrine using World Vision-provided materials.

Still a student, Arun devotes his spare time to help with the construction.

"Right now, we don’t have enough people to make the toilet, so I help my parents by carrying bricks. I also help pour water to make cement," he says, confident the project will be completed within a week.

Not far from his house, World Vision-contracted labourers are repairing cracked water tanks.

"The water tanks have to be repaired as soon as possible so the villagers can have a safe water supply," Arun adds. “We were really worried about dried-up water sources, but thank God for replenishing them during the monsoon.”

Learn more about our work in Nepal since the April earthquake.