Opinion | Time to move past the basics in disaster response
Summary
Nepal’s disaster response needs to move beyond standard relief kits toward need-based, inclusive assistance that protects dignity, safety and recovery. The piece calls for family tracing, community kitchens, document recovery desks, accessible shelters and stronger local coordination in the Bhotekoshi response.
Key Points
- Disasters affect households differently, so relief should be tailored to specific needs rather than standard item lists.
- Past crises in Nepal exposed protection risks for women, LGBTQIA+ people, children and people with disabilities, as well as barriers caused by lost documents.
- The response should include family tracing, women-led community kitchens, document recovery desks and accessible relief packages and shelters.
- The article argues for locally led, gender-equal, disability-inclusive coordination and better data collection to improve future disaster response.
