GENEVA, 28 April 2016 (UNISDR): One of the world’s most ambitious low-cost housing reconstruction programmes ever to be undertaken in a seismic zone is due to get underway this week following first anniversary of the 25 April Nepal earthquake.
Given the shortage of trained masons and other obstacles, it could take up to four years to complete.
Not a single house reconstructed yet
Mr. Amod Dixit, the head of the Nepal Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), said that there is confidence now that the reconstruction can finally go ahead.
Building better houses
A detailed damage and needs assessment of all affected houses and households is nearly complete and affected families have received, or will shortly receive a financial assistance of US$2,000 towards the cost of reconstruction.
Many would argue that this is not enough but the government is also providing assistance through teams comprising a social mobiliser, a technical engineering expert and a trained mason to help householders to rebuild to the national building code standards which will significantly reduce mortality in the event of another strong earthquake.
The social mobilisers will work with the affected people through the village development councils in the 31 affected districts to raise awareness of the importance of building back better using proven techniques developed by NSET over many years in Nepal and neighbouring Pakistan.
It was reported this week in Kathmandu that the National Reconstruction Authority has deployed a total 1,347 engineers and the same number of sub engineers for reconstruction under the Ministry of Urban Development to work at village level.
Læs videre hos United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
