1. Reaching remote areas
High altitude mountainous areas were some of the worst affected, while frequent aftershocks and landslides, as well as monsoon rains, made reaching small clusters of homes in remote areas difficult and slow. Getting big trucks of relief supplies and construction materials up to destroyed homes only accessible by small steep tracks was near impossible but these remote villages were some of the poorest parts of the country and therefore the least able to cope with disaster.
2. Combining expertise
International aid agencies are all working through Nepalese organisations. This helps strengthen national skills to respond to future disasters and makes the most of local knowledge, however most local agencies were not used to responding to such large-scale catastrophes and some lacked technical expertise. Local construction workers had to be trained in core concepts such as safe site selection, proper drainage, raised floors and roof fixing. New homes had to be designed with local people who had been affected.
3. No one left behind
The most marginalised people were sometimes missed out on distributions because without official government documentation, they were not on authorities’ lists. Especially many women didn’t have valid identification documents for receiving cash transfers. They didn’t have a bank account and many hadn’t even entered a bank before.