A Qualitative Case Study of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Resources after the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, Earthquake

The 2015 Nepal earthquake destroyed over half a million buildings including the drinking water and sanitation infrastructures, causing the displacement of around 2.8 million people. However, knowledge of how individuals coped with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) inadequacies following the earthquake remains incomplete. We conducted focus group discussions and detailed interviews with 30 participants in the affected areas of Kavrepalanchowk and a temporary settlement in Bhaktapur to assess their response and access to WASH after the earthquake. The data were analyzed based on the cultural empowerment domain of the PEN-3 cultural model. Results show that responses to WASH include the provision of water from public and private resources (positive response), the provision of chlorine tablets for treating drinking water (unique response), and limited water supply for household chores and limited sanitation and hygiene resources (negative response). These findings underscore the need to understand how individuals and households cope with WASH following an earthquake. It also highlights the need for targeted interventions focused on building community resilience in addition to providing critical relief efforts.