Post Disaster Rebuilding of Nepal: Forward Thinking
ASIA--PACIFIC, 1 Jun 2015
Kedar Neupane – TRANSCEND Media Service
Tribune de Geneve of Switzerland headline said it all “Nepal has lurched ground like a ship on the high seas” when the second major temblor of 7.3 magnitude rocked Nepal on 12 May 2015 again. According to a study sponsored by the Netherlands-Based Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation Kathmandu valley has a 300-meter deep layer of black clay which amplifies damages caused by earthquakes. This region, therefore, is prone to liquefaction in strong earthquakes and vibrations can turn ground into something like quicksand – capable of swallowing buildings. This could mean by the turn of the century another powerful jolt could be a possibility. Therefore, future planning for human settlements should strictly adhere to the seismic-resistant buildings throughout Nepal.
Continuing series of shockwaves have created an unprecedented scale of humanitarian tragedies and developmental challenges not witnessed in living memory of Nepalese since the great earthquake of 15 January 1934, which caused extensive damage to infrastructure in Nepal and India. It is imperative Nepal carefully reassess its general approach to building infrastructures. The colossal damages inflicted by the recent earthquakes were so gigantic, embattled Government of Nepal may falter the reconstruction process no matter how hard it tries to convince the people of Nepal for government institutions are weak and inept also due to disoriented political parities’ influence rendering it synonymous to dysfunctional.
The mounting emergency needs faced by millions of Nepalese can be overwhelming for government’s disaster response capabilities are cracking and its inability to respond to many in devastated and inaccessible areas outside Kathmandu valley are coming to fore. At times, response appeared inadequate and misplaced, adding further misfortune to vulnerable people. There is a danger of over reaction from government, which is struggling with continuing political debacle and entrenched with bureaucratic challenges. This is unlikely to abate and could prove disastrous leading to existential threat, compounded by further loss of life and property.
If situation continues millions of homeless people will end-up living in tented shelter for years, not months. Everything must be built from scratch. Rebuilding tasks will be arduous for economic gains have either disappeared or reversed by the extensive destruction. Hundreds of homes, schools, hospitals, bridges, roads and other infrastructure must be rebuilt; opportunities of economic means must be created and sustained. This requires money, takes time and needs appropriate technology. One early guestimate suggests Nepal’s economy may have lost equivalent of years’ of national GDP and rebuilding cost may go as high as US$15/20 billion. This is a staggering figure and a tall order for economically poor Nepal for it cannot finance it through domestically generated revenue resources.
The overwhelming sympathy and solidarity displayed by international community for Nepal must not be missed by the government. It should be mulling over a program for reconstruction and rebuilding almost like that of the European Recovery Plan after the World War II , known as Marshall Plan, which was to rebuild economy making Europe prosperous. This plan must address to all obstacles to post-disaster recovery and the Government of Nepal should look towards future and focus on destruction caused by natural calamities.
Nepal is geographically isolated and it is sandwiched between China and India. Both countries were also hit by earthquakes and suffered losses. They are Nepal’s closest friends and largest trading partners. Nepal should involve both nations in rebuilding effort and solicit full cooperation of China and India for rebuilding program. Nepal’s political parties’ should leave aside their differences and must overcome individual compunction. Pursuing over-confident and isolationist-policy-tendency will not help for Nepal faces stellar tasks and crisis of confidence with population and international donors. Building a new nation is neither a partisan issue noir it can be business-as-usual. The UN General Assembly has endorsed the flash appeal for US$ 415 million issued last month by UNOCHA in Geneva is a welcome endorsement. However, many Nepal observers believe rebuilding costs would be many fold higher than the initial emergency aid. The Government of Nepal should, in collaboration with China and India, follow-up with a consciousness-raising resolution at the UN Security Council for additional support for a Marshall Plan for rebuilding a new Nepal. This is to re-energize the world community calling for financial and technical assistance aimed at restoring one third of Nepal’s population’s lives which are at serious risk of survival and deprived of means of livelihood. In parallel, the government should also reinforce its resolve to address the political and bureaucratic challenges with open door policy for foreign government’s active partnership. To lead the process, the Government of Nepal should consider a new consortium of friends of Nepal co-chaired by members from major donors, trading partners and philanthropist advocates of Nepal.
The suggested approach is timely for Nepal would not want to stagger like other countries which faced large disasters. Lessons from unsatisfactory response and weak coordination during the hurricane Katarina, earthquake in Haiti and typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines should guide response to the crisis. Poor response to hurricane Katarina and typhoon Haiyan were largely attributed to political inaction from the centre of power. Haiti, as a failed state, stumbled for reasons there was no one appeared coordinating complicated and diverse relief work, causing delays in aid distribution. According to Refugee International the aid agencies were dysfunctional and the humanitarian response appeared paralyzed. Oxfam also noted that relief and recovery were at standstill due to government inaction and poor donor response. Does not it sound familiar? It is worrying that Nepal, a fragile state, may also quickly descent into similar chaos.
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Mr. Kedar Neupane is the president of “We for Nepal” association based in Switzerland. He is a retired United Nations staff, who has worked for over 38 years in countries of Asia, Africa and Europe and lives in Geneva. His e-mail is Neupanek1950@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 1 Jun 2015.
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