Sindhupalchok is one of the worst affected districts of the series of earthquakes in April and Mai 2015 – approximately 90 % of all buildings were damaged or completely destroyed, and there also were many deaths.
(PDF 958 KB)Reconstruction is slow due to lack of funds and bureaucracy, but also because of the difficult climatic and geographic situation (monsoon, landslides etc.). Many still live in shelters, although recently most people seem to have been able to rebuild their homes. Public infrastructure – schools, health posts, hospitals, paths – still are not completely rebuilt, especially in remote areas.
The Outreach Clinic in Hagam VDC, where PHASE Nepal has been implementing health and education projects since 2006, was also destroyed, and is since operating from a provisional shelter, which, besides being much too cramped, also lies in the path of a landslide that destroyed parts of the village in summer 2015.
PHASE Austria is funding a building for the Outreach Clinic (2 consultation rooms, 1 birthing room, storage space, toilets, water taps, covered waiting area). The clinic will be run within the PHASE Nepal health programme.
In June 2018, the structural work was complete (foundation, wall, RCC roof, inside wall plaster and septic tank). Electrical and sanitary work were ongoing, and we are hoping our staff can move to the new building in August.
PHASE Austria is constructing a new, earthquake-proof building in a safe location (2 treatment rooms, 1 birthing room, storage room, open, covered waiting room, toilets, drinking water supply) in cooperation with the municipality, which is providing the building site. The ongoing operation of the clinic (employees, medicines) is secured for the next few years within the framework of the PHASE Nepal health programme.
In March 2018, Brita Pohl visited the project community of Hagam on behalf of PHASE Austria and was able to see for herself how well the construction work was progressing. In June 2018, the shell was completed, the interior work is planned for July, and in August, the PHASE staff can move into the clinic – a great relief given the landslide-prone location of the old building!
We would like to thank the NAK-Humanitas Foundation for its generous support for this project!
The end report (in German) is available HERE.