Minutes – HCT+ Meeting, 28/5, 2pm

  1. Briefing:

Latest figures: (yesterday’s figures as today’s info still being updated)

  • Total death: 8,676(from 25 April Quake-8512 and from 12 May-164);
  • Total injured: 21,953
  • House damaged (fully): 502,033
  • House damaged (partially): 272,524

Flash appeal:

  • A total of $100.3 million received against the appeal. The appeal is now 24per cent funded (as of 1pm. today) with the caveat that some funding has not been counted into the funding, such as that arriving to Nepal before the appeal was launched.
  • We have developed, with solid inputs form the clusters, which we intend to release next week targeting donors to demonstrate how the Appeal links to the recovery/reconstruction.Itarticulates how the Appeal balances relief and recovery, and begins to frame both what humanitarian needs will remain at the end of the Appeal timeframe AND what contributions thehumanitarian response aims to make to longer term recovery.
  • We are finalizing the draft of the revised appeal. I anticipate a total equal to or slightly under the original appeal of $423 million.
  • In effect, adjustments have been made between sectors – reflecting a better understanding of needs one month on, and more focused targeting and budgeting for the period of the appeal.
  • Some cluster amounts have therefore increased: shelter, logs, and education.
  • Others have remained the same (protection and wash) or decreased: food, nutrition, coordination, emergency telecoms, CCCM.
  • It also includes an overview of a bridging approach, and can be used to approach donors with projects which require funding beyond the appeal’s timeline. The strategic principles which were drafted are also part of the revised appeal.
  • We now have a better idea of needs than we had a month ago and can produce more focused targeting, including on vulnerable populations such as children under five and the elderly.
  • Final tally will be ready by the end of the day.
  • There wasa question as to why the extended timeline of the appeal is not reflected as increased resources. HC clarified that the intention is not to increase the amount just because the timeline is now longer. We have already collectively realized that we are hard pressed to deliver all the planned activities to the affected populations with the monsoon approaching.
  • UNICEF provided justification for the fluctuation in the WASH sector allocations during the revision process of the appeal. HC and donors emphasized that the rigor of the allocation process is not questioned but we must make decisions based on what we are able to deliver and what donors perceive as rational.
  • Barbara Shenstone (OCHA) emphasized that the reallocations between the clusters were conducted in a rigorous manner with clusters driving the process, with everything based on their needs. It is only natural that some clusters decreased their allocations in light of more accurate information without any pressure put on them. If there exists an idea that the clusters were prevented from increasing their activities, it is a misconception. If the cluster leads wish to discuss the matter further, they were requested to so with Barbara after the HCT meeting.

Revised Flash Appeal Figures:

CLUSTER / First Appeal / Revised Appeal / increase / decrease / %
1 / Food Security / 128,000,000 / 99,047,906 / 28,952,094 / -22.62
2 / Shelter/NFI / 77,027,709 / 98,260,938 / 21,233,229 / +27.57
3 / WASH / 62,968,456 / 59,535,956 / 0 / 0 / 0
4 / Health / 41,816,520 / 41,822,974 / 6454 / +00.02
5 / Logistics / 32,544,688 / 38,008,568 / 5,463,880 / +16.78
6 / Education / 21,444,633 / 24,089,072 / 2,644,439 / +12.33
7 / Early Recovery / 16,095,940 / 16,049,800 / 46,140 / -00.29
8 / Protection / 13,732,051 / 13,732,051 / 0 / 0 / 0
9 / Nutrition / 12,831,500 / 11,016,755 / 1,814,745 / -14.14
10 / CCCM / 10,391,826 / 10,326,856 / 64,970 / -00.63
11 / Coordination / 3,700,000 / 3,443,000 / 257,000 / -06.95
12 / Emergency TC / 2,500,000 / 2,029,465 / 470,535 / -18.82
TOTAL / 423,053,323 / 420,795,841 / 29,348,002 / 31,605,484 / -0.53

Staff Welfare:

  • Instituting an R&R cycle will take too long to be beneficial for our staff deployed to the hubs. HC proposed agencies adopt a flexible approach to keep up staff welfare while also balancing response needs in the hubs. For example, OCHA has devised a rotation system to allow staff to start taking weekend-breaks. For both Chautara and Charikot they work with a two-week cycle and for Gorkha a three-week cycle (based on the better living conditions there). HC encouraged HCT to follow the same pattern for your own staff.
  1. Coordination / Inter Cluster:

On addressing the needs of older people and persons with disabilities

  • Evidence from the humanitarian response to the earthquake in Nepal last month suggests that two of the most vulnerable groups – older people and people with disabilities – are not being included in humanitarian assistance efforts as much as they should. HC requestedfor HCT support to encourage all those involved in the earthquake response to commit to providing inclusive, accessible and appropriate assistance for these groups. Protection cluster can provide guidance in this.
  1. Insights from the Field:

Gvt’s Directive on identifying earthquake affected households:

  • Both insights from the field and social media monitoring highlight delays in obtaining relief due to wait for government to distribute new ID cards for earthquake affected people. It is important to get them out and get them to the people. Without these cards it will be difficult to partake in elections etc. Recommendation was made to the protection cluster to seriously evaluate the various provisions in the directive and its implications.
  1. General Information / AoB:
  • The assessment unit has produced a pre-monsoon brief which provides an overview of potential impacts of the monsoon and is available for download on will also be circulated to the HCT.
  • HC informed the participants that the reinstitution of the customs dutymeans that we are now back to operating within the old system. As of today, there have however been no reports on negative impacts.
  • WfP yesterday presented an analysis of the food security situation in the affected districts based on primary data.
  • While the issue with visas for NGO staff is not fully clear in terms of duration, it was noted that MoHA is happy with guidance being provided to NGOs by the Social Welfare Council.
  • Next HCT meeting:(Monday) 1 June 2015 @ 14:00 hrs.

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