Nepal

© C. Acworth - Handicap International

Nepal has been hit hard by a civil war which has claimed the lives of over 13,000 people since 1996. Since the “popular movement” swept across the country in April 2006, forcing a change of government, a fragile ceasefire has been in place. The ceasefire has allowed us to step up support for people affected by the conflict who until now have been very isolated.

Handicap International is supporting the Nepalese physical rehabilitation services by supporting five physical rehabilitation centres in different regions of the country, training local medical professionals and improving patient access to specialised services. Since 2000, we have also carried out community-based initiatives with around twenty local partner organisations, in the fields of community-based rehabilitation, disabilities prevention and awareness raising campaigns, and the inclusion of people with disabilities as full stakeholders in community, social and socio-economic life.

Key Facts - Nepal

• Population: 29.9 million
• Household Consumption: $638 per year
• Life Expectancy: 68 years
• Human Development: ranked 138th out of 169 countries

^{Source: UNDP HDR 2011}

Our Activities

	Mobile rehabilitation and surgery camps Our team runs mobile camps providing physiotheraoy and rehabilitation to reach people with disabilities who cannot access centralised services due to the difficulty and cost of travel in Nepal.
	Developing physical rehabilitation services The aim is to support three existing physical rehabilitation centres in the Eastern and South-Central regions and in Kathmandu, by providing personnel and equipment. The project also works to Improve patient access to specialised services through decentralisation, networking, mobile services, listing and patient transport.
	Incorporating Disability into the development process • Basic rehabilitation for people with physical disabilities. • Community awareness raising and training on disability issues. • Promotion of the concept of “rights and inclusion” in order to improve the inclusion and rights of people with disabilities. • Reinforcement of Nepalese partner organisations through technical courses, practical training and capacity building.

Staff account - Inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency response Last December, Handicap International launched an inclusion project for people with disabilities involved in emergency situations in Nepal. Irina Ulmasova and Amina Bomzan, who are current in Nepal for Handicap International, explain more about the initiative.

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