Nepal is a country prone to different kinds of natural disasters and health epidemics. Its geographical positioning and effects of climate change makes it vulnerable to disasters and poor sanitary practices and underdeveloped health infrastructures make it a breeding ground for many diseases. Each year, numerous valuable lives and resources are lost due to disasters and various communicable diseases. According to the World Bank’s 2005 Natural Disasters Hotspots Report, Nepal is ranked the 11th most vulnerable country to earthquake and 30th to flood risk. In 2015, Nepal faced a devastating earthquake, due to which more than 9,000 people lost their lives, 22,400 people were injured and created damages worth NPR 900 billion. The mega earthquake of 2015 proved that Nepal is not prepared to face a large-scale disaster though there is high risk at any given moment. Currently, along with the other countries of the world, Nepal is facing a major health emergency in the form of COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has spread to the community level with more than 65,000 cases as of 21 September 2020.
Information is a valuable commodity during emergencies and disaster, it helps to create clarity and can be crucial in saving lives. Proper communication to people can not only help people to make better life-saving decisions during the time of chaos and confusion but it also helps to build trust between the government and people. During an emergency like now, timely and transparent production and dissemination of vital information which is endorsed by the government generates trust and credibility.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people around the world to be confined inside their homes and to be more reliant on technology and change how they work and communicate. People are using different tools, software and platforms to effectively work from home and to stay connected with friends and family that cannot meet due to the pandemic. But this situation has exacerbated the already existing digital divide among rich and poor people as well as countries. While people who have access to quality internet, continue to work from their homes, get access to proper information, learn various things, and keep in touch with others; people who do not have access to internet are confined in their homes without access to proper information, and a means to stay in touch with others.
One of the challenges for countries like Nepal with a large number of rural population is dissemination of right information to the marginalized people during the emergencies, especially to people without internet access. A lot of people do not have access to popular mass media mediums and social media platforms. Different kinds of rumours and false news can travel around fast during the emergency situation. In the current pandemic situation, there are various rumours and ill practices that is getting circulated – these kinds of misinformation can put people at risk and increase the rate of transmission. To avoid such situation, proper dissemination of correct and clear information from certified sources can be crucial. In a country like Nepal, this information has to be distributed from various mediums apart from the common mass media platforms. Common and most used means of communication may not work during pandemic or emergencies. It is important to reach out to people in a medium that they have access to and that they trust.