DRRM Executive Committee to provide Rs 50,000 to each quake-hit family

Published On: November 12, 2023 08:00 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Nov 12: A meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Executive Committee has decided to provide Rs 50,000 each to the family affected by the Jajarkot earthquake for the construction of temporary houses.

The 19th meeting of the committee held today at Singha Durbar under the chairpersonship of the committee chair and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha decided to provide the amount in two installments (Rs 25,000 in each installment), it has been said.

The announced amount and technical assistance would be provided immediately for the construction of temporary housing, said DPM Shrestha. "The amount and technical assistance must be sent for the victims. The earthquake victims will suffer from cold if temporary housing is not built immediately."

The amount will be directly sent to the respective local level through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund, and the local level will distribute it to the genuine affected, he said. He urged the construction of the housing promptly for the quake victims.

Similarly, Minister for Urban Development Sita Gurung urged the installation of corrugated zinc sheets with caution ensuring that they are not damaged in the process while calling for making standards that deprive the beneficiaries of the second installment of money if they do not construct temporary housing.

There is a need to construct temporary houses for the victims as children, the elderly, and pregnant and post-partum women have been affected the most due to cold, she said.

Expert Dr Gangalal Tuladhar, the committee member, stressed the need for immediately releasing the announced amount for the construction of temporary houses for the quake victims, and handing over the disaster management to the local levels.

He also called for the provincial government to monitor, and the federal government to manage resources.

In the meeting, the committee member-secretary Anil Pokharel presented details about the losses caused by the quake.

On November 3, an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude occurred at night with Ramidanda in Jajarkot district as its epicentre. At least 154 people lost their lives, and 346 people were injured in the quake. Over 62,000 private houses were destroyed (26,557 completely, and 35,455 partially).