Nepal ultimatum to NGOs on reconstruction: follow the government or you will be banned

Week "extension" granted by the authorities to groups that help victims of the earthquake in the districts of Gorkha and Dolakha expires today. The area was devastated by the earthquake 14 months ago, but the government has not yet initiated reconstruction. Organizations "must submit expenses and follow the central directives notes to coordinate assistance."

 

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - The ultimatum imposed by the government on non-governmental organizations - national or foreign - that operate in the districts affected by the earthquake of April 25, 2015, expires today. More than a year after the earthquake reconstruction is still on the high seas, but the authorities have targeted the independent groups that "do not coordinate with the executive and reach the population without our consent”.

The president of the District Commission for the recovery from the disaster of Gorkha, CDO Bhatta, asked the NGO to submit expense reports and emergency response plans: "After careful checks confirmed that these are not operating in areas that are a priority”. The Dolakha authorities have followed suit. Both districts were at the epicenter of the quake and were almost razed to the ground. Here the local population demands "less proclamations and more rapid interventions" from the authorities.

A Commission of inquiry appointed by Kathmandu carried out a "survey" of the Organizations in the area and, of 60 structures, they  received the required documents from only 15 of them. Commission coordinator, Dipendra Subedi, said: "We sent two emails to all groups to request details of the projects in progress, but 45 have not submitted the required programs".

NGOs that have not responded to the requests of the executive include major international organizations: the Red Cross, UNICEF, the "Womens" section of the United Nations and Phase Nepal. Although not openly, most bodies seem to have decided to wait and see. Raju Pradhan, representative of the German Caritas, told AsiaNews: "We still have to really understand what the government wants from us. We believe that we are doing the best we can".

According to Narayan Acharya, officer in charge of the development, the NGOs "have carried out a lot of 'software' activities, such as programs for better awareness of emergencies and for the representation of victims and survivors, but have not fielded the 'hardcore activities', which instead are more structural. We will not let them work unless there is a visible impact of their work. And anyone who moves in an arbitrary manner will be expelled” from the districts. For Bhatta "these groups do not take into account the real needs. The needs of the local population are one thing, their programs are another. "

The point seems to be on the spending of billions of rupees donated by the international community after the earthquake. Sushil Gyanwali, National Chairperson of the post-earthquake reconstruction, said: "We are concerned because we want everybody's effort to produce the best possible impact. We know that many agencies are working and that huge amounts of money have been invested, but the hoped for the change in the life of the people has not occurred. That is why we need better coordination”.

• Nepal earthquake earthquake reconstruction gorkha
• Dolakha non-governmental
• organizations coordination government