Oxfam and its partner organizations LUMANTI, DEPROSC, CIUD, HomeNet Nepal and ENPHO organized a program  on addressing vulnerabilities of urban communities in post-earthquake reconstruction: Issues of Livelihood.

Speakers emphasized on addressing vulnerabilities of urban communities in post-earthquake reconstruction. They stressed the need for addressing the vulnerabilities of urban communities in post-earthquake reconstruction. They expressed such views in a program entitled " Addressing vulnerabilities of urban communities in post-earthquake reconstruction: Issues of Livelihood" held in Kathmandu today.

Executive member of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Dr Bishnu Bhandari said that urban livelihood should be resilient and the organizations working for the supporting the victims should run their programs by understanding the needs of the victims. He stressed the need for creating employment and providing social security to address the issue of livelihood in reconstruction post-earthquake. Dr Bhandari said that such discussion will help NRA as it has the issues of recovery and livelihoods fall under the priority of the NRA. 

Speaking in the function, program manager at UN-HABITAT, Padam Sundar Joshi said that there are five types of poor in Kathmandu Valley. According to him, the five types are socially marginalized groups, renters, squatters, those living in the outskirts of the valley and inhabitants poor. Saying that the houses were also sources of income for many families in the valley, Joshi said that such types of come came to half after the earthquake since the houses were destructed or damaged during the earthquake in April 2015. He said that the cooperative housing plan proposed by the government a year ago should be implemented immediately.

Umesh Dhakal, Chief of the Earthquake Response Operations of Nepal Red Cross Society, stressed the need for adopting integrated approach to address the urban issues. He said that the issues of shelter, livelihood, water, sanitation, and hygiene should be addressed simultaneously.

Bimal Gadal, Sustainable Development Director of Oxfam in Nepal said that as per the report of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) the earthquake give rise to poverty in Nepal by 3 percent. He also said that discrimination and inequality also contributed to increasing poverty and unequal access to services leads to rural urban migration.

Former Chairperson of LUMANTI, Prafulla Man Singh Pradhan said reconstruction policies and standards for urban areas needs to be clear and also asked to standardize the works of non-governmental organizations. He also emphasized on municipalities be allowed to work independently on post earthquake reconstruction and NGOs should support them.

Prior to the speeches, three papers were presented by experts in the programme. Puskar Shrestha presented a paper on formal and informal urban settlements. Similarly, Om Thapaliya made a presentation on policies and practices for promotion of livelihoods in urban areas and final presentation was made by Nirajan Rijal on sustainable livelihoods of earthquake affected families in urban areas.

Representatives from Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, different municipalities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts, Nepal Red Cross Society and non-government organizations and journalist among others attended the event.