A 7.9 richter scale earthquake, on 25th April 2015, Saturday, shook most part of the country, and left with massive destruction in human casualties and physical property living people in unforgettable pain and tears. Most of the people are still not living in the house. Well thousands of old houses and temples are completely destroyed. Even the people who do not lost their houses, stayed outside homes under the plastic sheets as there are strong after shocks going on, and nobody dare to go inside. About 40 percent of the populations are affected by this disaster in different part of the country.

 

Lumanti is providing support for the earthquake affected families in partnership with local women cooperatives promoted by Lumanti.

 

18-20th May 2015

 

Support for Temporary Shelter 

 

Construction Materials distributed in Tokha

 

Lumanti Team visited the earthquake affected areas in Tokha and had a meeting with Juneli Women Cooperative and representatives of the civil society and political party in Tokha. It is reported that around 300 houses are damaged due to the earthquake and seeking the support for the construction of temporary shelter. Lumanti provided construction materials (CGI Sheets and bamboo) for 40 earthquake affected most vulnerable families in Tokha for the construction of temporary shelter. The supported were provided through Juneli Women Cooperative. The needy families are identified by group of assessment team representing Juneli Women Cooperative, Civil Society and Political parties in Tokha. For the construction of the temporary shelter, Lumanti is providing technical support by mobilizing the volunteer architects from Pro-poor Technical Assistance Group (PTAG) and team of technical professionals from Lumanti.

 

Lumanti team visited Bhaktapur

 

A team from Lumanti visited Bhaktapur to assess the damage made by the earthquake. It is reported that ward no 1 and 2 of Bhaktapur are badly affected by the earthquake. Maximum numbers of houses in the wards are collapsed and many are damaged. People in those affected wards are sheltered at the Municipal land in the Chyamasing Town Planning in around 80 tents. During the meeting with the local committee, it has demanded for the support for 60 temporary shelters. Lumanti is exploring the necessary support to fulfill those demands. 

 

Thimi seeking support for temporary shelter

 

Lyamha Pucha, a local community based organization in Thimi reported that around 125 houses in Thimi, Nagadesh, Bode and Tigni are damaged due to the earthquake. Amongst the 125 families, around 70 families are ultra poor and seeking support for the construction of temporary shelter. At present all the affected families are living in tent. The Lyamha Pucha requested Lumanti to provide support for the construction of temporary shelter.

 

Damage assessment in Shankharapur

 

Lumanti team visited ward 1 and 2 of Shankharapur Municipality and had meeting with ward secretary to acquire the information about the damage made by the earthquake. It is reported that out of 1145 houses in the ward more than 1100 houses are damaged. The municipality has also formed the municipal level committee to provide relief support to the earthquake affected families. Lumanti is providing support to construct 100 temporary shelters through the committee. The committee is entitled to identify the most vulnerable earthquake affected families.

 

Hygiene Kit distribution in Panga and Machhegaon

After assessing the WASH need with support from Bishnudevi Women Cooperative in Machhegaon and Panga Women Cooperative in Panga, as of the need requested by the cooperatives, Lumanti team provided 50 sets of hygiene kits in Machhegaon and 25 sets in Panga through the cooperatives there. The cooperatives as of the assessment report distributed the kits to the earthquake affected most vulnerable families.

 

17th May 2015

Distribution of hygiene kits in the communities

 

After accessing the WASH needs in the communities, Lumanti continues to provide hygiene kits to address the need of the communities in partnership with Water Aid Nepal. Today Lumanti has handed over the hygiene kits to the local Women Cooperatives in Inaya Tole, Kohiti, Sanogaon, Thaiba, Thecho and Khokana.  Those Women Cooperatives will identify the most vulnerable families amongst the earthquake affected families and provide the hygiene kits.

 

Temporary Shelter construction begins in Sanogaon

 

Construction of temporary Shelters begins today in Sanogaon. The Volunteer Architects from Pro-poor Technical Assistance Group (PTAG) are not only providing technical support for the construction of temporary shelters in Sanogaon, they are also joining hands with the community people in construction. Lumanti is planning to construct 50 temporary shelters in the community. 

 

Rambabu Maharjan, the youth from the community, after the technical orientation from the community volunteer ishappy to contribute his labour for building the temporary shelter for his family. He said, "I have never done this work before. I am doing as I am guided and building this temporary home for my family."

 

 

16th May 2015

 

Addressing the WASH related problems

 

After accessing the WASH needs in the communities, Lumanti started providing hygiene kits to address the need of the communities in partnership with Water Aid Nepal. The local Women Cooperatives in Machhegaon and Thankot has been coordinating for the distribution of hygiene kits. Lumanti handed over 50 sets of hygiene kits to each Women Cooperatives in Machhegaon and Thankot today. Those Women Cooperatives will identify the most vulnerable families amongst the earthquake affected families and provide the hygiene kits.

 

Lumanti team has also assessed the need of toilets in the communities where temporary shelters are constructed. As of the assessment done in Machhegaon, Lumanti has coordinated with ENPHO for the construction of 16 toilets near-by temporary shelters. The technical person from Lumanti has already visited the site to initiate the toilet construction there.

 

 

11-15th May 2015

 

Temporary Shelter for Earthquake affected families

 

Constructions of temporary shelter in the earthquake affected communities are on progress. Different Women Cooperatives promoted by Lumanti are coordinating for the temporary shelters in their respective communities. Local masons, youth and women are engaged in building the temporary shelters. Lumanti is providing technical and financial support for the construction of temporary shelters.

 

Till date, out of initially planned 26 temporary houses in Thankot, 23 houses are constructed in coordination with Thankot Women Cooperative. The estimated cost of construction there is NRs 15000.00 for each.

 

Whereas, Bishnudevi Women Cooperative in Machhegaon completed 55 temporary shelters out of initially planned 80, each costing NRs 10000/-. Likewise, Khokana Women Cooperative completed  13 temporary shelter in just NRs 10000/- for each house and Thecho Mahila Jagaran Women Cooperative completed 14 houses out of 45 with NRs 14000/- each. Similarly, out of initially planned 63 temporary shelter in Thaiba Shree Ganesh Women Cooperative constructed 35 shelter and Panga constructed 10 out of planned 30 costing NRs 20000/- for each. 

 

Construction of temporary shelter in Tokha and Sanogaon are yet to begin.

 

Relief Support in Machhegaon 

 

Clean-up Nepal in coordination with Lumanti and in partnership with Bishnudevi Women Cooperative in Machhegaon distributed the relief materials for the earthquake affected rental families there. 

 

Relief Camp for earthquake affected children 

 

The relief camp for children started by Didibahini Women Cooperative in the premises of a Montessori School in in Sanogaon is now withheld after the 7.2 magnitude scaled aftershock on 12th May 2015. After the shock, the parents do not wish to let their children out of their sight and refused to send their children in the relief camp. 

 

Similar relief camps are started in Thankot, Machhegaon, Khokana, Thecho and Thaiba. All those relief camps are being operated by local women cooperatives promoted by Lumanti. Volunteers from the communities and cooperative members are serving for the smooth operation of those relief camps.

 

9-10th May 2015

 

Temporary Shelter for Earthquake affected families

 

The community initiated to construct the temporary shelters in different old settlements in Kathmandu Valley. Lumanti has mobilized the community architects, the member of Pro-poor Technical Assistance Group (PTAG), for the technical support to construct the temporary shelters in Thankot, Machhegaon, Panga, Thaiba, Thecho and Khokana. More than 70 families from these communities have already shifted to their temporary shelter and more are under construction.

 

Lumanti team in Jeevanpur, Dhading

 

Lumanti team visited Jeevanpur VDC in Dhading on 10th May 2015 to assess the damage made by the earthquake. The team also had a meeting with the Village Development Committee and representatives of the political parties during the visit. It is reported that out of 2100 houses, more than 95 percent houses are damaged and the people are seeking the immediate support for temporary shelter. As an initial support, Lumanti is providing 2 bundles of CGI sheet to construct 100 temporary shelters in the village.

 

WASH need assessment in communities

 

A team from Lumanti visited Machhegaon, Thaiba and Khokana to assess the WASH need in those communities on 9th May 2015. It is reported that Machhegaon and Khokana need immediate WASH support. Safe water is another problem in the community. Relatively in Thaiba, sanitation status is reported better. Lumanti is providing WASH support as per the community need.

 

8th May 2015

 

Community Led Temporary Shelter Construction

 

With the grant support amounting to NRs 20 – 25 thousandfor each temporary shelter by Lumanti through local women cooperatives in Khokana, Thecho, Sanogaon, Thankot, Panga and Thaiba, the community people showed their initiation for the construction of temporary shelters. 

 

The community of Thaiba with the technical support from Lumanti completed the construction of initial 10 Temporary Shelter each sized 10x12 ft and the earthquake affected ten families have already moved in to their shelter.  The 

community people of Thaiba have used the space of the chicken farm for the construction of the temporary shelters.

 

Likewise, In Thecho two temporary shelters out of 10 are completed whereas the communities of Khokana and Thankot have started the construction of the temporary shelter. Panga, on the other hand, have purchased the construction materials today and are planning to start their construction works from tomorrow. Initially, all the communities will be constructing 10 temporary shelters each. 

 

The community people, especially youth groups from the communities, are actively working with the technical persons and the local masons for the construction of their temporary shelter resulting the speedy completion of the construction works.

 

Collaboration with Balaju School of Engineering and Technology

 

Lumanti in collaboration of Balaju School of Engineering and Technology is conducting technical training targeting the local masons focusing for the construction of temporary shelter.  Minimum 40 masons from different communities will be contacted through local women cooperatives for the training. The training is targeted to start from 1st of Jestha 2015.

 

More support provided for the earthquake affected families in core communities of Kathmandu

 

It is reported from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City ward 19 office through the local youth group that the around 50 families of the ward who have been staying in the premises of Shanti Nikunja School and nearby open space need tarpaulins and food. A severe water crisis is another major problem for the community. The houses of those families are marked as the risk zone and the engineers from the Municipality have recommended not to move in. Lumanti is providing required numbers of tarpaulin for the community people tomorrow. For the fooding support, Lumanti will coordinate with local women cooperatives who have been working there for relief support as Lumanti has provided the cooperative the financial support to provide relief support.

 

Water Supply system in Dhading stopped

 

It is reported that the water supply system in Salyantar VDC of Dhading was halted since the quake. The 50 thousand liter RCC RVT was damaged due to horizontal and vertical shaking. The beneficiaries of the system are about 1000 HHs. The VDC falls on one of the severly damaged area. 

 

The president of UC is injured and in treatment process in Kathmandu. The head master of Salyantar Higher Secondary School, Ms Balkumari Shrestha was killed in disaster who was chief adviser of UC.

 

7th May 2015

 

•Distribution of tarpaulins and solar bulbs are on going from Lumanti for needy communities.

 

•Construction of temporary shelter begins in Panga and Thaiba. Technical support being provided by Lumanti. Lack of construction materials in the market might hinder the construction works.

 

•Volunteers from Pro-poor Technical Assistance Group (PTAG) visited Thankot, Chitlang and Machhegaon for Post Earthquake Rapid Assessment of the buildings in the community. 160 HHs in core area of Thankot, 200 HH in Chitlang and 200 plus HH in Machhegaon are assessed. The team is visiting Bhim Mukteshwor, Kalimati area on May 5. 2015

 

•Clean Up Nepal in coordination with Lumanti is providing relief support in Thankot, Thaiba and Machhegaon in partnership with local women cooperatives.

 

•It is reported that 57 HHs of Naubise VDC along the Prithivi highway in Khanikhola Bazar observed. The team selected the framed structures and cement masonary buildings  for RVDA as almost load bearing mud mortared walls were collapsed or heavily damaged during tremor and no need of  technical assessment whether to suitable for stay or not. Three houses were under Damage Garde 3 (DG3). 53 Houses were under DG 1 to DG2 and 1 house under DG4. During the visit at police station in Khanikhola for notification and inspection, the team observed the ongoing relief distribution process coordinated by Area Police Post/ Naubise VDC. Representative of political parties were facilitating the process.  As per the sources of VDC, there is 3400 HHs in VDC. Among them 7 % HHs are built in framed structures. All together, 2600 HHs are completely damaged.30 people lost life in this large quake.

 

People from Khalte VDC asked about possible support on re-construction of 90HHs ( Gurung Community) where people had managed home stay facility before the disaster. People want to rebuild the homes in traditional architecture. They need technical and  financial support to reinstate the originality. They will also contribute from their side. 

 

4th May 2015

 

Lumanti supports to build temporary shelter in Panga, Machhegaon and Thaiba

 

Lumanti team visited Panga, Machhegaon and Thaiba and discussed with the community people for the construction of temporary shelter. It is agreed that the first preference for temporary shelter will be given to people who have lost everything and no other safe houses or properties. People have decided to coordinate with the municipalities for land and construction. For the immediate action, two different solutions were discussed. For those who have difficulties in moving to temporary shelter can be provided support for a rental room for a family. The estimated budget for a family is to NRs 18000/- per annum at the rate of NRs 1500/-. Another option discussed is the construction of temporary shelter each sized 12x10 ft with open kitchen, shared toilet and bathroom facility. The temporary shelter will be constructed using corrugated sheets and bamboo each costing NRs 20000/-. Lumanti is providing technical and financial support for the planning, designing and construction.

 

In Panga, an individual provided a land for a year for the construction of temporary shelter. Initially 10 temporary shelters will be constructed in Panga. An agreement for the construction has been done between Lumanti and Panga Women Cooperative. Lumanti is providing NRs 200000/- for the construction of temporary shelter. Fifty percent advance is provided to the community as the advance at the time of agreement. The Panga Women Cooperative will be providing support for the construction of one temporary shelter.

 

Likewise, in Thaiba Lalitpur, as well the community is negotiating with ward office for a land to construct temporary shelter. 20 houses will be constructed in Thaiba initially. An agreement for the construction has been done between Lumanti and Shree Ganeshsthan Women Cooperative. Lumanti is providing NRs 200000/- for the construction of temporary shelter. Fifty percent advance is provided to the community as the advance at the time of agreement.

 

Whereas, for Macchegaun people have their own properties to build temporary houses and they have demanded slightly more than the other two areas as these houses will be independent units and sharing walls. It is agreed at NRs 22,000 for the construction of each house and as majority of people have lost their houses in Macchegaun, they have demanded to build 20 houses immediately that sums up the total to NRs 440000/-. An agreement for the construction has been done between Lumanti and Bishnudevi Women Cooperative. Advance of Nrs 200000/- provided to the community for the construction of the temporary shelter.

 

Relief Support: Women find effective ways of managing food distribution

 

The visit to the communities in Machhegoan, Thankot, Khokhona, Siddhipur, Thaiba, Thecho and talking with the affected families, the first priority of the families right now is FOOD!! They had other organizations supporting them for food for the last week but the stock has coming to an end.

 

Lumanti discussed with the community based Women's Saving and Credit Cooperatives and community organizations. It was decided in the meetings that Lumanti provide them with monetary support, they will use the money to buy the necessary relief support and distribute them to the families who actually need them.

 

The groups have conducted a preliminary survey of the affected families and have noted the things which are priority for them right now. Food was the priority at the moment. The relief support provided by Lumanti was used for purchasing the supplies of the needed families. The food supply is for a week for now. Other supplies purchased are medicines. Focus of the relief distribution are for the families who have lost everything and do not have any home to go back to and were not able to salvage any of their things from their collapsed houses.

 

The preparation food is done in groups and the families in camps. And they themselves are responsible for management. The community cooperative themselves have contributed from their own funds to support their communities. Some groups also used coupon system. First, the cooperative members visited the camps and provided coupons to the families in need. Special attention was also given to women and children. Then, these families collected food supply for the Cooperative office. This arrangement was well appreciated by the beneficiaries and no conflict arose.

 

2-3 May 2015

 

Response to post earthquake disaster

 

With the financial support from Lumanti, Machhegaon Women Cooperative, promoted by Lumanti, distributed food support to 62 households in Machhegaon, 20 HHs in Adhikary gaon and Taukhel. The Cooperative members visited affected households / families and distributed coupons for collection of relief (food items) at the Cooperative office. The food items included rice, dal, sugar, salt and oil. Similarly Siddhipur and Thecho Women Cooperative also distributed food items. The system of coupons was well appreciated by the beneficiaries and no conflict arose in distribution of relief goods.

 

Panga Women Cooperative, promoted by Lumanti, is also raising fund at the local level to support Rs. 5000 to those households who have lost their family member in this quake, and the support is to observe local death ritual.

 

Lumanti and Kalimati Vegetable Women Cooperative distributed vegetables in 5 affected areas.

 

Panga Women Cooperative has started filtering of the families interested in temporary shelters to be built in the 2 acres of land to be provided by two individuals ( 1 acre each). Similarly, Thaiba community has also started identifying families ready to move in a temporary shelter.

 

Lumanti visited Gokarna area. Ward 9, 10 and 11 were severely affected. Six people lost life and 3 injured in Gokarna. 57 houses found to be completely damaged. They have not received relief yet. Lumanti provide some support to the local saving and credit group in the presence of the representative from ward citizen forum for providing food to the affected families for a week.

 

Lumanti also visited Sankhu, the worst affected old town in the Kathmandu district. One hundred people lost their lives and all types of houses were destroyed in Sankhu. A women's home based workers group called Srijanshil Shramik Mahila Samuha was provided support to provide food for affected 40 families.

 

It was reported that the number of people living in the tents slowly decreased in a number of camps in different areas. This is an indication that soon demand for temporary shelter will rise. Lumanti discussed on the four possible areas of engagement in providing temporary shelters: 1) maintenance of damaged houses 2) rental support 3) construction of temporary shelters 4) training to the builders / masons 5) Assessment of the damaged houses.

 

Lumanti also joined Oxfam to do the initial assessment in Khokana and Bungamti. Focus group discussion held and interviews taken of the key people from community. This information will be used in designing the water and sanitation support to the communities in the next one month.

 

Through Women Cooperative in Thankot, two sets of toilet was provided to get installed at Tamang Basti.

 

Request made to Swayam Sikshyan Prayod in India to look for solar lamps. As many quake hit areas are in dark, solar lamp will be very useful for them.

 

Lumanti also visited a number of informal settlements in Kathmandu. The highest hit settlement seemed to be Mandikatar with the complete damage of 25 houses. Some minor damages reported in other settlements.

 

Lumanti joined the initiation of Nepal Engineers Association in assessing the damage of the households, and contributed by leading of team of few technical people and assessed the damages in the houses.

 

Lumanti coordinated with the communities to do preparations for the construction of temporary shelters. As a result the cooperatives are in constant touch with the ward committees, ward citizen forum and political parties in finalizing land to build temporary homes and having meetings. People are ready in Thaiba and Panga, most probably Lumanti will be starting the construction work tomorrow in Thaiba.

 

Lumanti will be working in all these areas with a vision for building long term permanent houses /communities.

 

1st May 2015

 

Response to post earthquake disaster

 

Damages in the informal settlements: Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj reported on the impact of the earthquake in the informal settlements in Kathmandu. Compared to the damage in the historic settlements, damage in the informal settlements is far less. 5 pieces of tarpaulins is provided to Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj for distribution to the needy families, Lumanti will be having a meeting soon with the federation leaders on the rehabilitation of the affected families in the settlements in Kathmandu.

 

Responses from the Women's Cooperatives: Core area in Kathmandu: Members of Prerana Women Cooperative visited Lumanti and reported the figures of the damages that had taken place along the Bishnumati river belt in Kathmandu in Inaya Tole, Ramghat, Bhim Mukteshor and Hyumata. Tent and food supply was in demand. Lumanti provided 5 pieces of tarpaulins and a small fund to Prerana Women Cooperative to make food arrangement to the needy families.

 

Thankot: Members of Mahila Jagaran Cooperative in Thankot visited a number of affected communities and distributed food item.

 

Thecho: Women's cooperative contributed Rs. 400,000 for making food arrangements. As reported, some wanted to shift in the rental housing, but even to find a room to rent has become a challenging issue as many people looked for rooms now.

 

Thaiba: About 400 families living in a school area. The schools will re open in 2 weeks time. The people, who are living there, are thinking to negotiate not to leave the school but rather live in a congested manner occupying few rooms. The Women Cooperative is also making arrangement of food in Thaiba.

 

In all these area the women are also making assessment of the situation in all the affected historic communities. Many organizations are packing relief goods and visiting the communities and distributing the relief packages. Lumanti is doing it in a different and community led way. Community is assessing, making purchases as per need and demand, making arrangements and distributing by themselves with the support from Lumanti. So far all these and more communities have shared that they have received very little or no relief goods from the government, and they seem to be living in isolation still in a state of shock. They are relying on their own strength and resources and sharing and caring each other – the life giving source in isolation in pain and sorrow.

 

Kirtipur: Till today's record 2500HH (source Municipality) is completely damaged so need 3100 temporary tent at least to ensure shelter for these affected people in Kirtipur..

 

Mobilisation of youth volunteers: Lumanti has mobilized youth to report the damages in ward 23 and ward 30 in Kathmandu. Situation is pretty bad in few communities. Three people died in ward 30. People have no confidence to go back and live in their own houses.

 

Technical assessment of damaged houses: An architect from Lumanti and members from Pro-poor Technical Assistance Group (PTAG) attended a training provided by Nepal Engineers Association. Training gave a skill to assess the damage made in the buildings and to ensure the safety of the houses and building before the people return. After the training, the participants have started assessment of the houses in Basantpur area and they will be visiting communities for the assessment of the safety according to the guidelines provided by NEA

 

Community keen to lead in Dhading: It was reported that about 95% of the houses in Chhatra Deurali and Jeevanpur in Dhading district are destroyed. It is feared that food security will be a critical issues in the next few days. A volunteer has been mobilized for the assessment of the food security and other needs in these two VDCs and support will be provided accordingly. Efforts will be made for the formation of VDC level disaster management committee with community taking key role as shown interest by the community people.

 

Water and sanitation: More than 40 Volunteers mobilized for WASH awareness in camp sites and installed 9 emergency toilets at two camp sites. Till date 24 toilets have been installed in different camps. 2 water tanker of 7000Ltr and 1 tanker of 8000Ltr distributed water around kirtipur area. 10 bottles of chlorine was distributed in Thecho.

 

Temporary shelter: A private land owner has volunteered to provide his 5 ropani (1 acre) of land to construct temporary shelters for the affected families in Kirtipur. Lumanti will be discussing more on this matter. The community women leaders have started looking for land for the construction temporary shelter.

 

30th April 2015

 

Community initiations in assessment, dealing with relief and other support in Kathmandu valley Thankot Women's Cooperative reported that 400 houses are completely damaged. There is a demand for tarpaulins, medicines and food. The cooperative and Lumanti has contributed to provide food and medicine support to the needy and affected families in Thankot. 50 families in Dahachowk and 30 families in Thankot will be provided meals. They have already purchased rice 30 sacks, 1 sack dal, 1 sack sugar, tea 5 kg, 1 sack salt and 10 box biscuits. This relief support is being managed by the cooperative linking with the Local Disaster Management Committee.

 

In Machhegaon, food was in short supply. Until 30 April 2015, a local Buddhist monastery provided food for about 100 affected families. As they ran out of fund, from 1st May 2015 onwards women's cooperative will take care of providing meals to the families for one week with the support from Lumanti and mobilizing their own fund. In addition, the cooperative has also allocated Rs. 25000 to spend in meeting medical expenses for the needy families. The cooperative members are trying to reach all the affected families.

 

In Siddhipur, it was reported that 72 houses were completely destroyed, 450 houses although not collapsed, but not in the livable condition and the death toll was 11. Local people have established 'Siddhipur Relief Fund 2072' for mobilization of support at the local level. All the support going to Siddhipur will be channelized through this Fund. They had received 53 tarpulins. Demand is for medicines, chlorine and food. Lumanti has channelized our support through this Fund to provide support as demanded by the community.

 

In Khokana, it was reported that 700 houses are not in a livable condition. Tarpulins are in demand and they have not received it in adequate number. The community is not happy with the distribution mechanism, and they think it's been ineffective. Water born disease is already seen. The cooperative and Lumanti has provided financial support for relief support to the cooperative.

 

In the core Kathmandu; along the Bishnumati river belt area, Prerana women's cooperative identified that in Ramgaht, Hyumata and Inaya tole area, 10 houses are completely damaged and 38 houses are not in livable condition. Lumanti is working with the cooperative to mobilize relief support. 

 

More communities are visited in Lalitpur and other areas and also contacts being made through telephones for mobilizing relief support and for the assessment of the damage.

 

In Kirtipur, volunteers are being mobilized for water, sanitation and hygiene awareness in existing ward level camps - 3 team of trained volunteers 5 members each mobilized in existing camps to raise awareness on WASH including water purification along with Piyush and IEC materials. Lumanti has trained and prepared 2200 trained volunteers in Kirtipur to support in assessment of the situation, rescue operation, providing first aid and relief distribution. Support and materials provided for the construction of total 20 sets of toilets by mobilizing volunteers from KVS (Kirtipur Volunteer society ) along with ward level trained volunteers as per request and requirement of the existing camp site. Water distributed through tanker around Kirtipur area.

 

Few sub committees are also formed to look into situation assessment, relief and fund management, WASH awareness, improving security and managing setting up new ware houses for storing relief materials. Lumanti and Nepal Red Cross identified as the key supporters to all these sub committees. Decision is also taken that in Kirtipur, all the relief support will be managed by the ward level Community Disaster Management Committees. Lumanti had provided support in setting up these committees (in the last 2 years) as a part of preparation to face disaster.

 

Oxfam is planning to provide relief support ( with a focus on food security, WASH and shelter) in 3 districts; Kathmandu. Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Their two partners including Lumanti will work to cover these 3 districts. Lumanti will work in Kathmandu and some parts in Bhaktpur. Detail assessment will begin from tomorrow.

 

Few of Lumanti staff members were also badly affected as they loss house and all the belongings in the house. The meeting held in Lumanti made a decision to provide rental and other necessary relief support to them.

 

29th April 2015

 

In many of the historic towns in Kathmandu, Lumanti had supported in establishing women's saving and credit cooperatives who had been active in organizing women and also engaged in small scale infrastructure improvement activities. The members of these cooperatives are also badly affected by the disaster.  Lumanti team members have also suffered massive blow of this disaster as about 10 families had to move from their homes due to partial / full damage. They don't have their own place to live and currently relying on the support for relatives. All of them badly need proper temporary shelter.

 

Team from Lumanti have connected, visited these communities in Kathmandu valley; Thankot, Thaiba, Panga, Kirttipur, Machhegoan, Sano gaon, Thecho, Khokana, Tokha, Kathmandu, Lalitpur. Gokarna, Thimi, and a community in Dhading district. Except Dhading, all are historic old towns, and all the old houses proved to be very weak and completely collapsed including temples and so on. On an average it seems that each of these communities lost about 100 old houses, this means 100 families have become homeless. Partial damaged houses are not yet counted. Kathmandu Metropolitan city has started assessing the condition of the partical damaged houses to ensure the safety of the structure before people return from open space.

 

Lumanti is supporting the cooperatives to start a basic survey of the affected families and map the situation on the ground. The quick immediate assessment taken in few communities different towns showed: a great demand for tarpaulins (for the families who homes), small cash support for medicines and special needs of women and children, and support for food. As people are staying outside, they are cooking and eating in a common kitchen. They need support to get this common kitchen going on for few days.

 

 As per need and demand, Lumanti has mobilized support for tarpaulins, drinking water, sanitation facilities and Lumanti is providing support for fooding and small cash support from tomorrow onwards. Immediate support is required for this purpose.

 

Department of Urban Development and Building Corporation is leading shelter cluster group meeting, and they are going to meet every day from 9 – 10 am. Lumanti is a part of this group and is attending the meetings.  Lumanti will also be reaching outside Kathmandu as very little support is going out.