HELAMBU - LOCATION AND PEOPLE

Helambu Rural Municipality is one of 12 municipalities in the district of Sindhupalchowk which lies 4 hours’ drive north of Kathmandu. Helambu has a population of 18,000 people and is the root of Hyolmu ethnic group who live together with Tamang, Dalit, Newar, Chhetri and the hill Brahmins.

THE AREA FACES A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES:

  • Under the civil war this area was a “hotspot”, a high-risk area, this has left deep unresolved scars within some communities.
  • Sindhupalchowk has historically had the highest rate of girl trafficking in the country.
  • Climate change places a strain on groups exposed to trafficking it increases high-risk behaviors and other negative coping strategies among affected populations. These are exploited by proliferation of unscrupulous recruitment agencies, migrant and sex smugglers.
  • Sindhupalchowk was worst hit by the 2015 earthquake. It had the highest death toll, 95% of homes and infrastructure were destroyed. Many vulnerable families are still living in makeshift houses.
  • Helambu and the area around it is honeycombed with 163 hotspots for land displacement, areas of very high risk of landslides, an effect of the earthquake.
  • The Helambu trekking route, once the area’s primary source of income, was shattered in 2015 it is slowly being rebuild. It is seen by communities as a potential form of income source in the future.
  • Flood and landslide-induced disasters are increasing: The Melamchi/Helambu flood-2021 took 25 lives destroying nearly 100+ houses, 3 bridges, roads, and other infrastructures.
  • The area has also one of the highest rates of migration. Since the earthquake and floods migration has exploded. While previously men travelled outside to seek work now it is estimated that 20% of mothers are working abroad. Elderly and children are left alone severing traditional family/clan protective mechanisms. Over the last five years child- headed families have for the first time been registered in Helambu.
  • Helambu like some other hilly/mountainous area sees a proportionally higher ratio of children with disabilities. It is estimated that some 60% of all disabilities in Nepal are poverty related thus preventable. In Helambu disabilities are often related to alcohol intake under pregnancy and weak prenatal care.