Nepal PM unveils USD 8 billion post-disaster recovery plan

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today unveiled a revised USD 8 billion plan for reconstruction of damaged private and public buildings over the next five years, more than a year after two devastating earthquakes killed nearly 9,000 people and flattened thousands of homes.
The Post Disaster Recovery Framework (PDRF) prepared by Nepal government estimated that 838 billion rupees (USD 8 billion) would be needed for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Oli tabled the framework in the Parliament, saying plan would "guide the reconstruction campaign in terms of policies, structures, implementation process and financial management."
Sushil Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, said the plan would provide a clear road map to government, NGOs and other donor agencies.

The framework includes outlines of 20 thematic plans to be carried out for reconstruction and could be a major programme to mobilize resources to help rebuild the Himalayan nation.
The amount of 838 billion rupees is higher than the 669 billion rupees the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment done by the National Reconstruction Authority had identified earlier.

Oli attributed the revision in amount to the increase in the number of households affected by the earthquakes and to the needs identified by various ministries for reconstruction.
During a donors meeting in June last year 410 billion rupees was pledged. However, out of the total pledge, international donors have so far committed only 30 per cent or 120 billion rupees for the reconstruction.

The government has allocated 91 billion rupees for the reconstruction and recovery in the 2015-16 budget.
Nearly 9,000 people were killed and 22,000 were injured by twin earthquakes that hit Nepal in April and May last year. About 500,000 houses, 7,000 school buildings and 2,900 religious and heritage sites were damaged in the disaster.
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The government buildings, hospitals and school buildings will be re-built in three years time while the historical and religious sites may take five years to reconstruct, Oli said.
Community houses or common settlements will be built in the short-run for immediate accommodation for the quake-hit people, he promised.

The framework highlights strategic recovery objectives to build resilience among people and communities at risk, to develop new opportunities by revitalising the productive sector for economic opportunities and livelihoods, and to reconstruct damaged cities and ancient villages to their original form.
The PDRF launch programme was organised by the NRA in the presence of chiefs of various diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu, representatives of donor agencies, representatives from business and banking sectors, representatives from governmental and non-governmental organisations.