PRESS RELEASE
Marching in several districts to put their demand for reconstruction
January 13, 2017
Demanding relief and inclusion in the post earthquake reconstruction processes, about 2500 people from six districts have submitted their grievances and demands to Chief District Officers through People’s Caravan.
The People’s Caravan was organized in Rasuwa, Dhading, Dolakha, Nuwakot, Gorkha, and Sindhupalchowk districts in December and January where people affected by earthquake came out on the streets and marched towards the offices of the Chief District Officers with their demands, and officially handed them their demand letters. The CDOs have expressed their commitment to address their demands in the reconstruction process.
Suk Bahadur Gurung from Kerauja of Gorkaha district represented the people who had been first affected by the earthquake and later displaced when their lands were swept away by landslides. “There are 466 households that have been completely damaged and are displaced,” Gurung said adding, “But the government has not shown any sign to relocate us.”
Several people like Gurung talked about their problems and put them in writing and handed it to the CDOs in these districts. The People’s Caravan will conclude in Kathmandu on January 17, two days after the 19th Earthquake Safety Day, where a consolidated demand letter will be handed to the Prime Minister/a government representative.
Among others, people who have not been registered in the government’s beneficiary list, people living in temporary shelters or slum areas, people who lack land documentation papers took part in the caravan. Twenty months have passed since the earthquake of April 2015, yet nearly 7000 people are still living in temporary shelters in these seven districts.
“The reconstruction process should be sped up so that the earthquake survivors, mainly those without land certificates are also entitled to support to rebuild their damaged houses,” says Min Bahadur Shahi, Convener of HAMI (Humanitarian Accountability and Monitoring Initiative) adding, “There should not be discrimination at times of disaster.”
ENDS
Notes to the editor
· More than 2,00, 000 earthquake-affected people have filled out grievance letters so that the government would listen to their demands
· There are about 5000 households across the earthquake affected districts living in squatter or slum areas.
· There are more than 19,000 earthquake-affected families who are living in the landslide-prone areas.
· HAMI (Humanitarian Accountability Monitoring Initiative), Community Self Reliance Centre (CSRC), National Land Rights Forum (NLRF) and NCDMC (National Network of Community Disaster Management Committee) jointly organized the Peoples Caravan to build momentum and broaden the solidarity of stakeholders towards people affected by earthquake.
For more information, please contact Min Bahadur Shahi at HAMI.
