PRESS RELEASE
INGOs provnews_ide life-saving support to the people affected by the earthquake and contribute to their long term recovery, says AIN
July 28, 2015
INGOs, members of the Association of International NGOs in Nepal (AIN) continue to work to address the needs of the population affected by the earthquake. The support came in response to a request from the Government of Nepal on April 25th and is provnews_ided within the framework of international humanitarian gunews_idelines.
AIN organized an event to mark three months since the first earthquake. 87 INGOs out of 116 member INGOs of AIN showcased the scale and nature of the response in areas such as food and non-food distributions, injury rehabilitation, emergency health care, emergency education, shelter, livelihoods, water and sanitation, in all 14 priority districts and beyond. The event inaugurated by Rabindra Kumar, Member Secretary, Social Welfare Council started with a gallery walk where visitors went around the stalls put by INGOs working in the earthquake response. It was followed by an interaction with the audience on the successes and challenges of the post-earthquake relief and reconstruction. In his opening remark, Rabindra Kumar acknowledged the role of INGOs post the earthquake and sanews_id, "The exhibition is a part of transparency to showcase the work INGOs have carried out in the relief period and also provnews_ides a platform to learn about each other's work without duplicating efforts."
Many INGOs were already on the ground hours after the earthquake. To news_date INGOs have been able to attract resources to Nepal for the response that would not have reached here otherwise. The strong local footing and ties and the global expertise in humanitarian contexts of these organizations helped speed up the relief to those in need. AIN members delivered their anews_id through Nepali NGOs and local community groups. Members collaborated with central and local government, the UN community and the people of Nepal to deliver timely and appropriate anews_id. AIN chair Mulmi sanews_id, "AIN is committed in making the work of INGOs transparent and accountable. The relief and reconstruction efforts are undertaken with the approval of the Social Welfare Council and are reported upon regularly. In addition AIN members are committed to adhering to the calls made by the Nepal Information Commission regarding Right to Information."
Speaking on behalf of the INGOs, Rajendra Mulmi, Chair of the Association of International Non-Government Organizations (AIN) sanews_id, "INGOs are working alongsnews_ide the Nepal government. Member INGOs are working in coordination with the District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC), and act as District Lead Agency to help the DDRC to ensure faster and better delivery of anews_id. This underscores the government's confnews_idence in AIN members. Further, AIN will continue responding to needs of the community as reflected in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment report developed by donors and government."
Mulmi acknowledged the role of media: "AIN believes and respects the freedom of the press. We encourage fact-based analysis from the media on our work, as it helps to improve programming and accountability towards the Nepali people. We look forward to a constructive and healthy working relationship with the media fraternity."
Notes for the editor:
The international non-government organizations (INGOs) were among those to quickly respond to the call of humanitarian assistance in response to the devastating impact of the earthquake of 25th April. 87 out of 116 INGOs, who are members of the Association of International NGOs in Nepal (AIN), have contributed to relief work. They have been working in the earthquake-affected districts, in coordination with the District Disaster Management Committees at the district level and in coordination with the relevant ministries and UN through the cluster and humanitarian country team mechanisms. Member INGOs have attracted over USD 200 million worth of anews_id to Nepal so far. Marking the three months, AIN organized an Exhibition and Interaction program on 28 July 2015. The main purpose of the program was to showcase the contributions and work of INGOs in relief and recovery; and to discuss the successes and challenges from the first three months of the relief and recovery.