Govt. decides to mobilise security bodies to construct housing for Jajarkot quake victims

Kathmandu, Nov 30: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha today said the government has decided to mobilise security personnel to construct temporary housings for the Jajarkot earthquake victims.     

The government has focused on providing accommodation to the quake victims who are living under tarpaulins, said the minister in today's meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly.     

The government decided to mobilise the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police to make makeshift housing for the quake victims who are forced to live under tarpaulins during winter, he said.     

Informing that arrangements had been made that the respective district disaster management committee could mobilise security personnel as per the need, mentioned DPM Shrestha, adding that the federal government was ready to provide additional human resources for this cause.     

The government had carried forward the work in three phases to provide assistance to the quake victims, he said, stating that rescue, relief distribution and reconstruction had been prioritised.     

"Following the quake, Prime Minister himself reached out to the quake victims on the ground. The injured were identified and brought to the hospital immediately. They got timely treatment", he further said.     

The 6.4 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre at Ramidanda in Jajarkot district occurred on November 3 killing at least 154 people and injuring 366 others, according to the Home Ministry. Of the dead, 101 were from Jajarkot and 53 from Rukum Paschim.     

Jajarkot, Rukum Paschim, Rukum Purba, Salyan, Rolpa, Nawalparasi East, Dailekh, Dang, Baitadi, Jumla, Pyuthan, and Achham districts were affected the most by the quake.     

As data shows, 26,557 houses were completely damaged while 35,455 suffered partial damages in the quake. According to the Home Minister, 26 government offices were completely destroyed and 34 public buildings suffered partial damages.     

The government intensified the relief distribution efforts from the second day of the November 3 earthquake, and its focus has now been concentrated on the management of temporary shelters for the affected and on the rebuilding efforts, shared DPM Shrestha.     

The decision to provide Rs 50,000 in two instalments to each family to assist in the construction of temporary shelters has been already implemented, as the Minister said.     

It has been estimated to cost over Rs five billion to build temporary shelters in Jajakot and Rukum Paschim, the districts hit by the quake, he said, adding that the government has been in touch with donor nations for their cooperation in the post-quake reconstruction efforts. Inter-ministries coordination is underway to address the issues of disaster survivors.     

In the meeting, lawmakers thanked the government for its actions in the disaster-hit areas, advising it to concatenate efforts to the management of shelter and reconstruction divers. They drew the government's attention towards the situation forcing some of the survivors to succumb to cold and urgency to address their health issues promptly. (RSS)