Itagol – a community of Kirtipur, one of the hard-hit old cities of Kathmandu
Once a community full of harmony and cultural richness, ‘Itagol’ is now much of a torn-down place with over 80 households totally ruined by the devastating earthquake which struck Nepal on 25th April 2015. Out of 196 households in total, only 90 are left normal, which means many of the locals are permanently displaced.
Itagol – a community of Kirtipur, one of the hard-hit old cities of Kathmandu
Once a community full of harmony and cultural richness, ‘Itagol’ is now much of a torn-down place with over 80 households totally ruined by the devastating earthquake which struck Nepal on 25th April 2015. Out of 196 households in total, only 90 are left normal, which means many of the locals are permanently displaced.
Itagol lies in ward number 18 of Kirtipur municipality. This ward is among the hard hit areas of the municipality among with wards 9, 10, 11 and 12. Though no human loss occurred in Itagol, around 15 people were seriously injured.
The families of the 80 houses that were totally damaged are now living in two large temporary shelters (campsites). In one campsite, there are over 35 families sharing a common shelter with several make-shift tents. In another there are over 40 families living under the temporary shelter. Children as young as 5 years old and around 50% of the population being women, the very sensitive composition of displaced population is what the locals are facing.
4 young children and 16 women live in this combined tent that holds over 14 families displaced by the calamity
‘My husband is a bus-conductor, and I have a 5 years old daughter, my life is very insecure now’ says Ms Anita Maharjan who is one of the many mothers living in the temporary campsites. ‘We are regularly taking care of security, hygiene and food for all the people living in these temporary sheds’, says Mr Dinesh Maharjan, one of the members of Disaster Management Committee (DMC) of ward number 11. He also acknowledges that they received 10 tarpaulin sheet handed over to DMC by CIUD that were used to make tents for the displaced families. CIUD with the support from Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) has supported Kiritpur with relief materials.
To overcome the tragedy, communities and NGOs working together to overcome the tragedy, is very visible in Itagol. The support offered by the locals and helping organizations, have been able to provide temporary help to the hard hit communities suppress their pain. More coordinated work like the effort in Itagol, will be very crucial as we rehab and rebuild the communities. The urban poor living in this community of Itagol, Kirtipur need further support for relief presently and in future for rehab and reconstruction. After giving them the confidence, then the process of rebuilding needs to be initiated with involvement of the locals and support from the government as well as other supporting partners so that the loss incurred is nullified as soon as possible. CIUD is very glad to be a part of this process.