Miscellaneous
Red Cross to build 11,600 houses in quake-hit districts
Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has said it will construct more than 11,600 houses in 14 quake-affected districts.Sudip Kaini
Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has said it will construct more than 11,600 houses in 14 quake-affected districts.
Amarmani Paudel, an official at the NRCS, said the organisation is all set to conduct a recovery programme that includes reconstructing houses, maintaining heath and sanitation and encouraging education along with other livelihood programmes in coordination with the National Reconstruction Authority.
“We are still providing relief. Now will start working to reconstruct houses and infrastructure in association with the government,” said Paudel, adding that the Red Cross will work in Gorkha for at least two years.
According to Paudel, 11,600 quake-resilient houses, each at the cost of Rs 217,000, will be constructed with the financial assistance from Belgium, Germany and Netherlands Red Cross. The Red Cross also plans to construct drinking water projects, toilets and school buildings.
Yadubilash Bhattarai, chairman of Gorkha Red Cross, said the organisation will also start livelihood programmes after identifying the needs of quake survivors.
The Red Cross plans to launch the programmes in quake-hit Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Makawanpur, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga districts.
The Gorkha District Disaster Management Committee has given permission to the Red Cross to start reconstruction at Harmi, Thalajung, Shreenathkot, Jaubari, Bakrang and Barpak VDCs. “We will first construct 700 houses and hand them over to quake survivors,” said Bhattarai, adding that around Rs 280 million will be spent on the recovery programme.
Red Cross representatives informed that they will be working in line with the government plans and policies.