“Understanding livelihood insecurity due to landslides in the mid-hill of Nepal: A case study of Bahrabise Municipality”

Abstract

Nepal is known as the most landslide-prone country due to its fragile and diversified geographical structure, climatic change, active tectonic zones, and unplanned settlements in the mid-hills. This research employed a hybrid methodology, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, to gain insights into the lived experiences of landslide victims in Bahrabise Municipality, which is the most landslide-prone area of the country. The study involves household questionnaire surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGD) with 205 participants in three major landslide areas: Jambu, Ghumthang, and Jure. The study highlighted how landslides have affected on the livelihood's security in rural Nepal. Based on the results, landslides not only caused deaths and injuries but also inflicted livelihood insecurity in the landslide-prone area. The survey findings indicate that livelihood indices such as food, shelter, and employment are most deficient, while education and health have not been significantly affected. However informal interviews and FGD provide insights into displacement, psychological distress, and health challenges for victims. This paper contributes to the knowledge base as it focuses on a specific geographical area and provides localized insights into the effects of landslides on livelihood security. Policymakers and local communities can use the findings of this study as a basis for intervening in how to improve degraded livelihood security in the future.