WFP to construct a humanitarian relief center at Pokhara Airport

POKHARA, March 25:The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun construction of a humanitarian relief center at Pokhara Airport.

Basudev Ghimire, Kaski Chief District Officer, lay the foundation stone for the facility, which will be erected with 161,000 US dollars from the European Union.

He was confident that the building of the humanitarian aid center will make rescue and relief more successful amid the humanitarian crisis in Gandaki region.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has allocated approximately 4 ropani of land at Pokhara's old airport for the construction of a humanitarian relief facility. The World Food Programme will run the center.

Moti Thapa, WFP project manager, stated that the humanitarian aid center will store crucial relief goods, rescue equipment, warehouses, prefab housing, food, generators, jack lifts, and other supplies.

"We have built 11 such humanitarian aid centers so far, now we will build the last one at Pokhara airport," he went on to say, "this will help in the humanitarian crisis in Gandaki province."

He stated that the humanitarian aid center's mission is to document relief goods that arrive in Gandaki during disasters in order to facilitate rescue and relief distribution.

He stated that the humanitarian relief station at Tribhuvan International Airport played an important role during the 2015 earthquake.

During the foundation-laying ceremony, Ambassador Veronique Lorenzo of the European Union Delegation to Nepal stated that Nepal is vulnerable to natural calamity.

"Poor communities suffer more from disasters," he stated, adding, "The Emergency Response Center will help save lives during crises."

Robert Kasca, UN World Food Programme's Nepal Country Director and Representative, stated that investing in disaster preparedness can save people's lives and time.

He praised the European Union for contributing to the construction of a humanitarian aid facility in Pokhara.

As part of its emergency readiness efforts, the World Food Program has set up a network of humanitarian distribution stations across the country since 2013.

Monica Upadhyay, WFP's communication officer, stated that such a network will aid with the response to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, as well as the rescue of survivors.