Lalitpur Metropolitan City – Bungamati, in Lalitpur Metropolitan City (historically known as Patan) is to get a multipurpose evacuation centre as part of a Thai-funded International Organization for Migration (IOM) programme to build eight evacuation centres in earthquake-affected districts of Nepal.

Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday (21/1), UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal Valerie Julliand said that Nepal is among the 20 most disaster-prone countries in the world. “With recent disasters – the flooding of 2017 and the earthquake of 2015 – it is crucial for us to be prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced populations and to build resilience for future disasters,” she noted. 

The 2015 earthquakes displaced approximately 2.8 million people. Some 117,700 people in the 14 worst-affected districts were forced to find shelter in makeshift camps. 2017 saw heavy rains resulting in flooding across 35 of Nepal’s 77 districts. Over 190,000 houses were destroyed or partially damaged, displacing tens of thousands of people and leaving many homeless.

“With the onset of any disaster or emergency, this earthquake-resistant centre will be used to provide shelter for displaced people, with priority given to the most vulnerable, including pregnant women, children, people with special needs and the elderly,” said IOM Nepal Chief of Mission Paul Norton.

“As a co-lead for camp coordination and camp management in humanitarian emergencies, IOM Nepal aims to contribute to the government’s efforts in disaster risk reduction and management. We are confident with this initiative at the local level that we will be able to help build the resilience of the community in Lalitpur Metropolitan City,” he added.

The centre will also serve as a venue for community activities, including women and youth groups, community-based training, recreational pursuits, adult literacy classes, information dissemination and income generating activities.

“This project is a symbol of friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Nepal. As we now celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Nepal, I would like to emphasize that Thailand will always stand by Nepal (to promote) closer bonds between the two countries and peoples,” said Royal Thai Embassy to Nepal Charge d’ Affaires Tanaphum Leelaporn.

The ground-breaking ceremony was also attended by senior officials from Nepal’s Home Ministry, Ministry of Urban Development, the District Office, UN, media, civil society organizations, students, youth and women’s groups, as well as the local community.

IOM plans to build similar multipurpose structures in seven other municipalities in earthquake-affected districts – Shankarapur, Kathmandu; Changunarayan, Bhaktapur; Gorkha Municipality, Gorkha; Neelkantha, Dhading; Gosainkunda Gaunpalika, Rasuwa; Chautara, Sindhupalchowk; and Bhimeswor, Dolakha. The project complements an ongoing UNDP project in the same areas.

For more information please contact Paul I. Norton at IOM Nepal, Tel: +977 1 4426250, Email: iomnepal@iom.int. Or the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), Tel: +977 1 4211673, Email: info@moud.gov.np