Govt launching school reconstruction today
Kathmandu, May 18
The Ministry of Education is commencing school reconstruction through Emergency School Reconstruction Project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency amid a function at Shree Kalidevi Higher Secondary School, Pyutar, Lalitpur tomorrow.
The ceremony will be jointly inaugurated by MoE Secretary Bishwa Prakash Pandit, National Reconstruction Authority expert Hari Ram Parajuli and JICA vice-president Hidetoshi Irigaki.
The project aims to rebuild and retrofit schools and related facilities in the earthquake-affected districts, said officials.
The estimated cost of the project is 16,522 million Japanese yen (approximately 132 million USD), of which JICA will finance 14,000 million Japanese yen (approximately 115.3 million USD).
The project will cover 14 districts in collaboration with Asian Development Bank. JICA will cover Lalitpur, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Gorkha and Makwanpur.
For the 1st batch, of the 120 schools assessed, 84 schools have been identified for reconstruction in six districts.
In Lalitpur, five schools have been selected for 1st batch reconstruction by the Project Implementation Unit under the Ministry of Education.
PIU is recruiting international consulting firm for 2nd and 3rd batch school reconstruction that will focus on higher secondary level schools. Detail assessment for 2nd and 3rd batches will start from next fiscal year, they informed.
Earthquakes had affected nearly 7,000 schools, according to the Post Disaster Need Assessment report.
EU support to quake victims
KATHMANDU: The European Commission is making available € 5.5 million (Rs 660.7 million) in humanitarian aid funding for Nepal in 2016.
The funds will be used both to respond to humanitarian needs, particularly in regard to shelter, as well as to strengthen the disaster preparedness capacities of the most vulnerable communities in earthquake affected areas.
Overall, the financial assistance will benefit close to 290,000 earthquake-affected people across nine hardest-hit districts.
“As we continue to address the humanitarian needs that remain one year after the earthquake, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the country is also better equipped to cope with recurring natural hazards”, said Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, through a press statement issued here on Wednesday.
“This contribution will not only provide the most affected people with better shelters that will keep them safe and dry during the forthcoming monsoon and winter seasons, but will also strengthen the resilience of communities in dealing with future natural disasters,” he added.