LWF Nepal and Korean Diakonia join in earthquake response

Earthquake destruction in Durbar Square in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Photo: LWF/C. Kästner

Support to households in Bhaktapur

KATHMANDU, Nepal, 23 July 2015 (LWI) - Rev. Sung-Jin Jung of Korean Diakonia/World Diakonia (KD/WD) and Dr Prabin Manandhar, Country Director of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work in partnership on relief work with earthquake-affected people.

The objective of the cooperation between KD/WD and LWF Nepal is to support earthquake-affected people in Bhaktapur district in building transitional homes and temporary latrines for safe living, before later aiding them in reconstructing their homes and latrines.  

Under the cooperation, KD/WD will provide USD 100,050 to support the 150 earthquake-affected households of Bhaktapur district. Priority will be given to members of the Dalit or artisan caste, ethnic minorities, women-headed households, households with members with disabilities or chronic illnesses, households made up solely of elderly people, families depending entirely on daily wage labor, and other minority and disadvantaged groups.

“We are pleased to partner with LWF Nepal to support the earthquake-affected people of Bhaktapur district,” Rev. Jung said during the signing.

“Our partnership will support the earthquake-affected people to recover from the emergency and rebuild their lives,” LWF Country Director, Dr Manandhar added.

LWF Nepal has already provided relief to 817 family members of Bhaktapur district. The Korean support will be used for early recovery and rehabilitation. The one-year program spanning from 1 June 2015 to 30 May 2016 will cover the Manjushree and Changu Narayan municipalities of Bhaktapur district where most inhabitants are indigenous communities. LWF Nepal will implement the program in the district through Transformations Nepal, a local implementing partner.

LWF Nepal has formed strong regional partnerships through the earthquake response. Among the first to support the ACT Alliance appeal was Amity Foundation, a Chinese non-governmental organization. Korean Diakonia started to cooperate with ACT Alliance through World Diakonia in 2014. The organization is among others conducting relief activities for socially vulnerable groups and working with Syrian and Haitian refugees.

LWF Nepal has more than 30 years’ experience in disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness and response. The team started assisting people affected by the earthquake on 25 April hours after the disaster happened. Since then, LWF Nepal has distributed relief goods to just over 21,000 households in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Makawanpur and Rasuwa districts.

 

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Visit the Nepal earthquake response page, the Nepal program page and the Nepal program site