Situation Overview
Mobile connectivity in Kathmandu is improving, restoration assessments of mobile networks outside the capital are ongoing. Access remains a challenge and power grid remains out in many areas, so mobile generators are being deployed. Coverage data from NCell is available in the DropBox.
Télécoms sans Frontières teams are travelling to remote districts to provide free calls to affected people. Teams are currently in Choutara, Sindhupalchok District and Tipling, Dhading District.
Facebook and Whatsapp remain key channels for information sharing, with requests of help from affected communities in rural areas coming through on Facebook pages, as well as local volunteers organising fundraising efforts and relief missions to remote areas where needs have been identified.
Skype is continuing to offer free calls to landlines and mobiles worldwide from Nepal for the next month, in recognition of the importance of communication following the disaster.
The CwC Working Group is now meeting three times a week and is developing and translating common messages for affected people. The Humanitarian Coordinator has requested agency representatives join the meeting to share critical self-help messages and ensure agencies are providing communities with information they need, as well as actively seeking their feedback.
Assessments carried out by the Radio Sub-Working Group highlight station infrastructure, power back-up and programme content as key needs identified at community stations.
In response to Strategic Objective 5 of the UN Flash Appeal and Action Plan, resources are being sought to support a proposed Inter-Agency Common Service Feedback Project, aiming at coordinated information provision and feedback management across the response.