Interaction on the role of CSOs in the context of damage caused by recent windstorm in Bara and Parsa as well as role in post-quake reconstruction after the 4th year of April 2015 earthquake

8 April 2019, Kathmandu

National Alliance for Human Rights and Social Justice–Nepal (Human Rights Alliance)  and Humanitarian Accountability Monitoring Initiative (HAMI) collaboratively organized interaction program on the role of CSOs in the context of damage caused by recent windstorm in Bara and Parsa districts as well as role in post-quake reconstruction after the 4th year of April 2015 earthquake. In the program, representatives from different network federations and organizations including NGO Federation; Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal; Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal (ACORAB) Nepal; Alliance for Social Dialogue; Community Electricity User Groups; Association of Family Forest Owner’s, Nepal; School Management Committee Federation of Nepal; Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Nepal; Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights-Nepal.

The guests of the program were Vijay Kumar Dutt, the chairman of the Madhesi Commission and Jita Ram Lama, Chairperson of NGO Federation. Dutt was congratulated for being appointed as the chairperson of Madheshi Commission. The program was chaired by Rem Bahadur BK, Member Secretary of HAMI Humanitarian Accountability Monitoring Initiative and moderated by Dr. Padma Prasad Khatiwada, General Secretary, Human Rights Alliance. Bidur Subedi, HAMI presented a fact monitoring report prepared by collecting information from district chapters of Human Rights and HAMI networks working from the districts. It covered facts about damage caused by the windstorm of March 31 in the districts, relief distribution status, role of CSOs coordination with local government, and event to be organized marking 4^th year of the great earthquake.

In the program, Jita Ram Lama, NGO Federation, considered that role of CSOs is crucial. Constructing resilient structures have to be ensured focusing the most vulnerable or marginalized communities. Bijaya Dutt praised for reflecting humanitarian support in unity in diversity. Subas Khatiwada, ACORAB, DB Karki, All Nepal Peasant’s Federation, Sushila Bhusal, FPCRN, Tillttam Poudel, HAMI spoke in the meeting. Some of the issues raised in the meeting were need of CSOs’ monitoring for effective relief distribution committed by the governments and others; landless and farmers to be prioritized in relief distribution; need of quality of materials in distribution; challenges faced by women and children at the districts; need of equity based relief distribution; carrying out event to mark 4^th year of the great earthquake. Rem Bahadur BK, HAMI stated that collected suggestions with regards to relief distribution will be prepared as consolidated report. An interaction event will be organized marking 4^th year of the great earthquake aiming to making government and other stakeholders accountable in post-quake reconstruction.