NSET's Efforts Towards Build Back Better

It has been almost 6 months since the Himalayan earthquake struck on September 18 2011 causing huge damages on the eastern part of Nepal but no substantial effort has been made so far to address the impact of the earthquake.

There are however several activities going on at different pockets and localities. Immediate repair and construction works are being carried on extensively locally. But the worries are whether there have been needful supports provided to BUILD BACK BETTER!

Earthquakes are natural phenomena which cannot be stopped but there are ways in which the losses can be reduced. This NSET hopes to achieve by training technicians, masons and especially the owner-builders on earthquake safe construction methods.

NSET after conducting field based intensive damage assessment works in affected areas during October 2011 have now been engaged to mobilize resources at the optimum possible extent to impart Knowledge and Skills to local people on earthquake safe construction. Under Nepal Earthquake Risk Management Program Stage II (NERMP2) supported by USAID/OFDA, NSET is putting its efforts towards building back better of the earthquake affected region.

The first phase (December-January 2012) of the program covered three pilot districts (Phidim, Paanchthar; Phungling, Taplejung and Ilam) and in the second phase (March 2012) the programs are being carried out in Khandbari- Sankhuwasabha and Myanglung-Terhathum districts of the eastern Nepal.

District Level Orientation-Workshops

NSET team conducted District level orientation-workshop in the three pilot districts (Phidim, Paanchthar; Phungling, Taplejung and Ilam) of the eastern Nepal (the most affected districts) to propagate the message of earthquake safety along with the lesson learned from 18th September Himalayan earthquake.

A brief description about the program activities to be implemented at district level and discussion on earthquake risk of Nepal was also included in the orientation-Workshop.

Different stakeholders including Chief District Officers, Local Development Officers, District chiefs of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Government representatives, District Office and technical representatives of NGOs, media representatives and district representatives of political parties participated in the workshop.

Capacity Building

In this period repair and reconstruction works are being carried out extensively in the earthquake affected areas but still most of the constructions are driven on ownership effort with the help of local masons. The huge devastation by the recent quake has made them think on the mode of construction they have been following up till now. People now want their houses to be earthquake resistant and they themselves prepared for any disaster.

NSET’s approach of imparting the knowledge and skill to the local people on earthquake safe construction through mason training programs and earthquake safety orientations in schools and communities were found to be highly effective and appreciable.

5-day Intensive Training Program for Masons:

In the first phase a total of four intensive 5-day Mason training program on earthquake resistant construction and retrofitting was conducted in the three most earthquake affected districts namely;

• Chyangthapu, Panchthar district
• Sinam, Taplejung District
• Ranke Bhanjyang, Panchthar-Ilam boundary
• Maipokhari, Ilam district

A total 143 masons from 26 VDC’s of four districts were trained on earthquake resistant construction through this program. The program covered importance of safer construction, weakness in current construction practice and measures to overcome the weakness. The practical exercise on construction of different elements of buildings with earthquake resistant construction techniques and retrofitting of buildings using low cost, easily available and community adopted building materials made the participants more clear on the construction methodology.

Orientation to Local Community/Students and Teachers on Earthquake preparedness

The local communities, the students and teachers of the three districts were also oriented on earthquake preparedness and safer construction. There was active participation from wide range of the community including the youths, volunteers, professionals, political party representatives and general public from the locality.

More than 220 students and teachers from three different schools Bishnu H. Secondary school, Chyangthapu, Sinam Higher Secondary school, Sinam and Maipokhari Secondary School, Sulubung were oriented on earthquake safety.

Out come

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