Issue 14 March 2010 Kathmandu, Nepal Earthquake Safety Day 2010 The 12th edition celebrated amid series of gala events nationwide 12th ESD National Meeting On 16th January 2010, Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurated National Meeting of 12th Earthquake Safety Day 2010 amongst the large public gathering at Lalit Mandap, Jawalakhel. In his noteworthy address, Prime Minister Mr. Nepal stressed the need of and asserted the commitments from the side of Nepal Government to enhancing institutional capacities, strengthening relevant policy instruments and promoting collaborative efforts to achieve the desired level of safety. Prime Minister Nepal highlighted the vulnerabilities of Nepal to disaster and noted the recent quake in Haiti. On the occasion, Prime Minister also franked Rt. Honorable Prime Minister, Honorable Home Minister & distinguished personalities at the National Meeting the Commemorative Envelope to mark the 12th Earthquake Safety Day 2010 12th Earthquake Safety Day National Earthquake Safety Day 2010 has been and unveiled the National Disaster Committee executed all the set programs celebrated nationwide with series of Report 2009. gala events during January 16, 2010 fully in coordination with different and around. Government of Nepal had government/non-government, UN and From the chair, Honorable Home decided in 1999 to observe this day International agencies, academia and Minister and Chairperson of annually in commemoration of the many more community institutions. ... Continued to page 4 most devastating tremor that quaked on 15th of January 1934 (i.e. 2nd Magh 1990 as per Bikram Sambat calendar) Officials from World Bank and NSET visit Project Schools in Nepal-Bihar region. The general Representatives from World Bank the construction activities for the new purpose to go on with such an initiative Mr. Christoph Pusch, South Asia building of Kalika Higher Secondary has remained to enhance earthquake Regional Coordinator, Disaster Risk School, Gaindakot, Nawalparasi. The safety in Nepali communities through Management & Global Facility for work has been executed under the various awareness raising programs on Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery project Developing a Strategy for earthquake hazard, risk, and risk (GFDRR) , Mr. Saurabh Dani, improving Seismic Safety of Schools reduction measures including prepared- Disaster Risk Management Specialist, in Nepal through the support from ness, and also to strengthen policy South Asia Regional Team & and the World Bank/GFDRR. Under this instruments to cope with potential Global Facility for Disaster Risk project, NSET is implementing School threats. The main slogan for this years Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) Earthquake Safety Program in 6 celebration spells: and a team from NSET led by Mr. different government schools, 3 each Enhance Community Safety; Reduce Amod Mani Dixit, Executive Director from Nawalparasi and Lamjung Earthquake Risks made a joint monitoring and evaluation districts. Project period duration is of visit to project school sites of August 2008 to July 2010. Construct Safe Schools, Hospitals and the Nawalparasi District on 21st February Settlements 2010 to observe project activities and During the visit, joint team had a the progress. The joint team observed discussion with school authorities, :: In This Issue parents and School Manage- PEER Activities 3 ment Committee members on project activities, effecti- Disaster Preparedness for Safer veness and appropriateness Schools in Nepal 4 of the program being SESP Activities 6 implemented in order to improve seismic safety of EERT Activities 7 schools. Mr. Pusch expressed his views that such type of Page ... Continued to page 2 1 World Bank Representatives at the School Meeting Continues 'Official from World Bank and NSET' ... district; and Kalika Higher Secondary School, Gaindakot, Daunne Devi Higher Secondary School, Bardaghat & Shanti Srijana Lower Secondary School, Jhankre from Nawalparasi district. Under the technical supervision of NSET, retrofitting of existing buildings and earthquake resistant construction of new buildings are in progress. Meeting with teachers and community people NSET has also been working on raising awareness of the school teachers, community works will be a good students, masons involved and the local example for other communities as well. community on earthquake preparedness Mr. Dixit shared the experiences of by conducting orientation program on Retrofitting in progress at Shanti Higher Secodary similar works from different parts of earthquake safety. Before selecting School, Kunchha Lamjung the country and showed his satisfaction these buildings as model buildings, a Dhruba Raj Pokhrel, President, SMC on what has been achieved so far; but group of engineers from NSET had of Marshyangdi Lower Secondary in the meantime he urged the extreme conducted earthquake risk assessment School. need to gear up such initiatives more of the government and private schools extensively with the view to ensure buildings in both the districts says Most of the schools in Nepal are still earthquake safety in all schools in Amod Mani Dixit, Executive Director, in vulnerable condition. Keeping in Nepal. NSET. mind that those schools has to be made safe, NSET implemented the School Also, earthquake safety drill was We all feel more secure and less worried Earthquake Safety Program in 3/3 observed on the occasion. Nearly 1500 as our new school building is being schools of both Lamjung and students participated on the exercise. made earthquake resistant says Mr. Nawalparasi district and made those Established in 2033BS, Kalika Higher Dhruba Raj Pokhrel, President, SMC school buildings earthquake resistant so Secondary School, Gaindakot, of Marsyangdi Lower Secondary School that they could be established as Nawalparasi has a total number of 1600 which was established in 2040 BS in students and 32 teachers. In order to Sundarbajar Paundi,Lamjung district. raise awareness of students on earth- quake preparedness, School earthquake preparedness drills are being conducted regularly. Such activities in school will certainly help students to gain know- ledge on earthquake safety says Principal Kamal Subedi. Our home, school buildings have to be made earthquake resistant and for that trained human resource, raised public awareness and strong will power is necessary says Om Prakash Sapkota, President, School Discussing with the School Management Committee of Management Committee, Kalika Higer Marshyangdi LSS, Besi Sahar, Lamjung Secondary School. "Prior to this, NSET also conducted specialized course of Likewise established in 2017 BS Shanti Mason Training for earthquake resistant Higher Seconday School of Kuncha construction here, we have seen over- VDC, Lamjung has around 600 students. Earthquake Safety Drill at Kalika With the support from World Bank, 3 Higher Secondary School, whelming response and conerns from Nawalparasi local communities for earthquake out of 6 buildings of this school have resistant building construction" says been retrofitted under the technical model/example in the Mr. Nirakar Joshi, Engineer and Nawal- supervision of NSET. 45 years old society says Dhruba parasi district project coordinator. school buildings were in very vulnerable Lal Pradhan, Engineer condition. The school has now reached and Lamjung district This project incorporates earthquake to this stage due to the continuous project coordi-nator. resistant construction of school support from the community people. buildings; namely Bageshwori Secondary Pitambar Gauli, a local resident Earthquake prepare- School, Bichaur, Shanti Higher expresses his happiness on achieving dness programs being implemented in Secondary School, Kuncha & the safety of the children by retrofitting schools of Nepal are found to be highly Marsyangdi Lower Secondary School, thus making the old and vulnerable effective. These sort of programs where Sundarbajar Paundi from Lamjung school buildings earthquake resistant. there is direct contact with the people at the frontline have contributed Local masons of Lamjung who were significantly towards risk reduction. previously constructing houses in traditional manner have now learned the skill/technology of making schools and houses safe. We have already started implementing the new technology says Kirtiman Limbu, a local mason. The masons have started giving advice to the house owners on Page earthquake resistant building Observing real size model for mason training at Kalika construction these days, added Mr. 2 Higher Secondary School, Nawalparasi REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER) Activities National Police Academy awards Bangladesh and Nepal. NSET for Capacity Building of Nepal Police MFR course in Bangladesh was conducted from February 16-28, 2010, The National Police Academy (NPA) at Fire Service and Civil Defense of Nepal has awarded National Society (FSCD) Training Complex, Dhaka. for Earthquake Technology Nepal During PEER Stage 2, FSCD organized (NSET) in recognition of the latter's MFR and CSSR courses with all-male contribution in the capacity building participation. It is worthy to note that of the countrys police force through female participation was initiated during the Program for Enhancement of this MFR course and encouraged FSCD Emergency Response (PEER). further to involve more female participants for gender balance and The certificate of appreciation was women empowerment. Bangladesh has awarded to NSET on February