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Country analysis

Nepal


On 3 November 2023, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Jajarkot district of the Karnali province. As at 16 November 2023, more than 350 aftershocks had been reported. These included a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on 6 November 2023. The most affected districts were Jajarkot and Rukum West.

Over 150 people have been killed and more than 360 people have been injured by the earthquake and aftershocks. Nearly 35,500 houses have been damaged and around 26,500 houses have been destroyed. As at 7 November 2023, an estimated 58,000 people (over 12,000 families) were displaced.

The earthquakes and aftershocks have damaged or destroyed roads, water supply systems, and telecommunications infrastructure, especially radio stations. Public services have also been affected. As at 9 January 2024, 47 health facilities have been damaged and nearly 900 school buildings were either destroyed or damaged, affecting over 125,000 children.

At least 200,000 people require urgent humanitarian assistance. Immediate needs include food, especially ready-to-eat and dry food, winterised shelter, shelter materials, blankets, and healthcare. Other urgent needs include livelihoods support, access to education, and home reconstruction support.

(UN RC Nepal and UNCT Nepal 10/11/2023, UN RC Nepal and UNCT Nepal 16/11/2023, Nepal Red Cross 07/11/2023, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority accessed 10/11/2023, UNICEF 09/01/2024)

On 3 November 2023, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Jajarkot district of the Karnali province. As at 16 November 2023, more than 350 aftershocks had been reported. These included a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on 6 November 2023. The most affected districts were Jajarkot and Rukum West.

Over 150 people have been killed and more than 360 people have been injured by the earthquake and aftershocks. Nearly 35,500 houses have been damaged and around 26,500 houses have been destroyed. As at 7 November 2023, an estimated 58,000 people (over 12,000 families) were displaced.

The earthquakes and aftershocks have damaged or destroyed roads, water supply systems, and telecommunications infrastructure, especially radio stations. Public services have also been affected. As at 9 January 2024, 47 health facilities have been damaged and nearly 900 school buildings were either destroyed or damaged, affecting over 125,000 children.

At least 200,000 people require urgent humanitarian assistance. Immediate needs include food, especially ready-to-eat and dry food, winterised shelter, shelter materials, blankets, and healthcare. Other urgent needs include livelihoods support, access to education, and home reconstruction support.

(UN RC Nepal and UNCT Nepal 10/11/2023, UN RC Nepal and UNCT Nepal 16/11/2023, Nepal Red Cross 07/11/2023, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority accessed 10/11/2023, UNICEF 09/01/2024)

Latest updates on country situation

13 December 2023

More than 40,000 earthquake-displaced people in Karnali province are living in tarpaulin tents. They urgently need food, healthcare, and WASH assistance, as well as winterisation support, including adequate shelter, warm blankets, mattresses, warm clothes, stoves, and fuel. (The Guardian 12/12/2023, HRW 13/12/2023, Shelter Cluster 23/11/2015)

current crises
in Nepal


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

NPL003 - Karnali Earthquake

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Earthquake

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.4 Medium

Access constraints

1.0

Analysis products
on Nepal

Nepal: earthquake in Jajarkot district

10 November 2023

Nepal: earthquake in Jajarkot district

DOCUMENT / PDF / 284 KB

On 3 November 2023, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the western area of Jajarkot district in Karnali Province. This is the deadliest earthquake to hit Nepal since 2015, when two earthquakes killed nearly 9,000 people near Kathmandu. 

Natural hazards
COVID-19 and Migrant Vulnerability in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

13 October 2020

COVID-19 and Migrant Vulnerability in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

DOCUMENT / PDF / 285 KB

This report aims to describe key factors affecting vulnerability for both internal and international labour migrants and the communities they are returning to in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, in order to support humanitarian and development actors to proactively identify and respond to emerging critical needs. 

COVID-19
Nepal: COVID-19 & the return of migrants

12 June 2020

Nepal: COVID-19 & the return of migrants

DOCUMENT / PDF / 369 KB

Many migrant workers, most of them from Nepal, lost their employment when the Indian governmentimposed a strict lockdown on 25 March to contain the spread of COVID-19. With theeasing of the lockdown, 600,000 migrant workers are expected to return to Nepal in the coming weeks andmay weaken the effectiveness of Nepal’s COVID-19 mitigation measures. 

COVID-19Mixed migration
Nepal: Floods and landslides

17 July 2019

Nepal: Floods and landslides

DOCUMENT / PDF / 482 KB

Heavy rainfall since 11 July has triggered flooding and landslides across south-eastern and central Nepal. Provinces 1, 2 and 3 are worst hit, with province 2 as the most severely affected area. An estimated 75,900 people have been displaced across the country. Shelter, WASH, health and food needs are reported. As of 16 July, 78 people have been killed, 32 people are missing, and 40 others have been injured. Flooding and landslides have blocked and damaged roads and bridges, hampering the humanitarian response.

Natural hazards
Nepal: Floods in southern Terai

16 August 2017

Nepal: Floods in southern Terai

DOCUMENT / PDF / 401 KB

Due to prolonged rainfall across Nepal from 11-14 August, 31 out of 75 districts have been affected by flooding and landslides. The southern Terai region has been particularly affected with an estimated 450,000 people affected by flooding and landslides. In this region 43 people were killed and an estimated 32,000 houses were damaged. Districts in central and eastern Terai have the highest reported impacts. 

Natural hazards
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