Salome Bhatta
Other than the Government, the only other bodies in Nepal that have been able to afford Disaster Rapid Response teams (DRRT)s are INGOs. These teams have national and
International extensive training spending is lakhs to crores for disaster response.
In Nepal, these teams also have a collection of the best foresight information with their robust coordination among each other and usually is led by Association of International (AIN) INGOs Nepal. It seems like the association best known for announcing vacancies to shuffle elite staff from one INGO to another also hasn’t been effective in activating a joint rapid response effort either.
According to a study report of 2019 prepared by the Social Welfare Council (SWC), the body regulating the INGOs in the country mentions that many INGOs in Nepal have been spending heavy amounts on staff salary, luxurious transportation, and logistics while they spend nominal amounts in the targeted areas. The same seems relevant during this pandemic time.
While Nepali social startups are quick at trying to find a solution to survive by providing services to the public even without a DRRT, their effort to bring in a win-win situation makes it feel like the INGOs in Nepal is on vacation.
So where is their Rapid Response? One must take heed that INGOs have strict policies in place to ensure accountability and proper execution of projects that might have been holding them from acting fast during these times. Well haven’t these DRR teams been preparing just for this moment? If flexible responses can’t be executed in time because of policies, then shouldn’t these policies be relaxed or changed?
So, where is their Rapid Response? Even in the first wave, INGOs did respond, but very late. Now that a year is gone by, why are the DRRTs hiding behind ‘Ventilators take time to procure’ There are plenty other areas the INGOs in Nepal can play an effective role.
In recent years, there has been a global push for humanitarian organizations to partner with Private sector and the youth groups that are active in the communities. Maybe in the long term the Disaster Rapid Response Teams (DRRT) should actively involve and connect with the above mentioned groups and actually execute Rapid responses to disastrous situations like the one we are seeing unfold today. However there are still some effective actions that the INGOs can act on today to ease the pain caused by mounting cases and an inevitable high number of deaths because of COVID-19.
INGOs are best at managing campaigns and distribution of essentials. The vaccine drives are ill-managed, hospitals do not have manpower and resources to ensure proper social distancing. Quick partnerships with Hospitals with COVID-19 Crisis management Center (CCMC)’s permission and supporting them with manpower and resources to take precaution is something that is very necessary at the moment. INGOs should not wait for these bodies or hospitals to approach them instead.
There are youth groups such as CovidconnectNepal that are already trying to tally up beds and oxygen, and aiding the supply chain. They too are crying for volunteers and resources, the INGOs can fund that.
INGOs are also present in multiple districts in Nepal. They could quickly set up a response desk, food desks at local government units (ward offices) even in remote areas.
They could also locate, reach out and provide advice, resources, spaces, and guidance to startups and groups that are trying to ensure fair distribution of medical equipment, masks, and PPEs and making the supply chain systematic and effective. While Ask Foundation, Danphe care, Voxcrow, Kosi Collaborative are some of many social groups trying to provide service in these situations, a better coordinated and focussed effort should be worked upon for a relief effort of this scale.
The high tea, shiny reports, and hefty allowances are all good but it is time that is put to use.
It is time that the trained personnel of DRRTs of these INGOs become proactive in the peak times of disaster that they are trained for.
