INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MARCH 21The Government of Nepal, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
attended a ceremony to mark the start of the construction of a new Humanitarian Staging Area inside the premises of the old Pokhara airport
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Issuing a press release on Thursday, the WFP said the hub in Pokhara, funded by the
European Union and managed by WFP in close cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the
last of the twelve staging facilities built to support provincial and national emergency response operations across the country
Once completed, each of the seven provinces will be equipped with their own staging area, thereby forming a network to improve storage and
transport of relief goods to remote locations during emergencies and crises.
Kaski Chief
District Officer Basudev Ghimere laying the foundation stone at the old Pokhara airport
Courtesy: WFP
Attending the groundbreaking ceremony today, Chief District Officer of Kaski,
Basudev Ghimere said, " The setting up of humanitarian site at the Pokhara airport is very strategic as this will help in effective
coordination of relief supplies through- out the province
The lack of such a facility is starkly evident during major crises and emergencies, including the COVID pandemic and the more recent
Jajarkot earthquake which required response at scale
"The decision to construct a provincial staging area in Pokhara follows the success of the UK-funded Kathmandu hub, which was launched one
month before the devastating 2015 earthquake as the central humanitarian hub for emergency preparedness and response
The timely activation of the facility saved 21 days in response time, facilitating a faster delivery of relief supplies to those in
desperate need, the statement added.
3D model of the future airport of the humanitarian staging
area inside the Pokhara airport
Courtesy: WFP
Similar to Pokhara, WFP has constructed humanitarian hubs at the Tribhuvan Airport in Bagmati
Province, Dhangadhi and Baitadi in Sudurpaschim Province, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa in Lumbini, Surkhet and Jumla in Karnali Province,
Birgunj and Bardibas in Madhes Province and Biratnagar and Terhathum in Koshi Province, WFP said."Here in Nepal, natural disasters like
floods and landslides are a significant threat and it is the poorest communities who suffer the most," said Veronique Lorenzo, EU Ambassador
"The European Union is working with WFP to build a new emergency response hub allowing us and the Government of Nepal to act faster and save
more lives when there is a crisis or a disaster."The ceremony took place at the Pokhara airport and was attended by Basudev Ghimire, Chief
District Officer, Kaski district together with senior officials from WFP.
A long shot of the 3D
model of the humanitarian staging area inside the Pokhara airport
Courtesy: WFP
"Investing in emergency preparedness can save time and lives
Logistics bases at the provincial level, together with capacity building of humanitarian agencies and government will help each province
respond to disasters faster and more effectively," said Robert Kasca, WFP Nepal Representative and Country Director
"We are thankful to the European Union for their generous contribution of US$ 161,000 for this important initiative."WFP has been supporting
the Government of Nepal since 2013 to build a national network of humanitarian staging areas to strengthen emergency preparedness and
response capacities across the country.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
