Nepali civil society organizations demand the Government for inclusive disaster responses

On 30th April, a discussion was held in Kathmandu among civil society organizations (CSOs) in the coordination of NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN)  to review the overall situation in the aftermath of devastating earthquake in Nepal and possible role of CSOs in rescue and relief efforts. After the discussions, following statement was issued on behalf of participating CSOs. PDF version of the statement can be downloaded here. 

Joint Statement from Civil Society Organizations

1. CSOs of Nepal express deep sorrow over the damages caused by 25 April earthquake in Nepal. We wish the soul of those died in the earthquake may rest in peace, express our heartfelt condolence to the people who lost their family members and wish for early recovery of those who have been injured.
2.  Appreciating government’s rescue and relief efforts, we request government agencies, NGOs, donors and human right based organizations to review the challenges seen in the coordination part among CSOs, specially, in monitoring, assistance and relief distribution.

3. We request government to create conducive environment to engage CSOs in assisting local administration to provide emergency needs such as medical treatment, food commodities in the remote parts where state has not reached immediately. We also request government not to be stick on its stance on one door system based on the nature of rescue and needs of earthquake affected community.
4. We demand that government should incorporate role of CSOs in recently issued Rescue and Relief Operation Guideline 2015 and participate civil society organizations at center, district and community level in rescue and relief efforts.
5. We draw attention of the government that it should not create environment of curtailing rights to the people provided by the constitution in the name of declaring earthquake affected area as ‘Crisis Zone.’
6. We request the government to give first priority to rescue people alive from the debris and identify the dead bodies. We also request the government to make efforts to normalize terrifying environment specially, among those who have faced physical damages and even lost their family members.
7. We appeal the government to immediately make available the emergence relief materials such as plastic, tent, tarpaulin, medicines and health workers in highly affected areas to save more lives.
8. We request the government to immediately establish a mechanism to coordinate with NGOs in the districts which have remained very effective at local level.
9. We request to the government to mobilize volunteers including political party activists, students, teaches, civil servants and NGO activists to add efficiency in relief works and relief material collection and distribution.
10. We request the government to prioritized information collection of actual damages by forming rapid assessment team.
11. Rumors regarding international aid flow, relief support should be avoided and dissemination of illusionary messages in social media should be discouraged.
12. We request the government to pay special attention towards women, children, elderly people, people with disability and poor even among the affected people and immediately rescue and rehabilitate them.
13. We request government to prepare timeline of the rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities and work on the basis of the timeline.

Participating Organizations

1. NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN)
2. COCAP – Collective Campaign for Peace
3. AYON – Association of Youth Organizations Nepal
4. NEC Nepal – Nepal Engineering College
5. NFN Kavre Chapter
6. MBBS
7. JCYCN – Jagriti Child and Youth Concern
8. ESDO Nepal – Eco-Social Development Organization
9. HR Alliance – Human Rights Alliance
10. NFN Kathmandu Chapter
11. ASD – The Alliance for Social Dialogue
12. NYFN – National Youth Federation Nepal
13. JMC – Jagaran Media Center
14. INSEC – The Informal Sector Service Centre
15. SOYA
16. WIPPA
17. NFN Bhaktapur Chapter

18. DNF – Dalit NGO Federation
19. NASCIF – National Senior Citizen Federation
20. WOFOWON – Women Forum for Women
21. YUWALAYA – Youth Resource Center
22. CCN – Campaign for Change Nepal
23. NFN Lalitpur Chapter
24. RACE Nepal
25. CWIN Nepal – Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre
26. Beyond Beijing Committee
27. HURFON – National Human Rights Foundation
28. FOHRID – Human Rights and Democratic Forum

29. RICOD – Rural Institution for Community Development
30. ACORAB – Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
31. JFHR – Joint Forum for Human Rights
32. RRN – Rural Reconstruction Nepal
33. SAAPE – South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication
34. NIRN Nepal
35. CWISH – Children-Women in Social Service and Human Rights
36. HHAssociationNepal