A 7.9 richter scale earthquake hit Nepal on Saturday, the 25th of April 2015, which shook the entire country and left with massive destruction in human casualties and physical property, leaving people in unforgettable pain and tears. Thousands of old houses and temples have completely been destroyed. 

Many more houses were damaged rendering thousands more homeless and without shelter. They have lost their homes, their belongings and most importantly, their families.  The continuous aftershocks are shaking people’s confidence. Even the people who have their houses safe stayed outside their homes under the plastic sheets as there had been continuous strong aftershocks, and nobody dared to go inside. It is estimated that about 40 percent of the population is affected by this disaster in different parts of the country. 

 

Three districts of Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur are among the worst hit cities of the capital. Most of the World Heritage Site located in Kathmandu valley is badly affected. The temples, monument of historic importance and the heritage were collapsed. More than 80 per cent of the houses in the historic old settlements in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur are collapsed making the people homeless.

 

Since after the earthquake on 25th April, Lumanti Support Group for Shelter, in coordination with local government and in partnership with local women cooperatives, community groups and CBOs, is supporting for the implementation of earthquake relief activities in different old settlements in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Apart from its support within the Kathmandu Valley, Lumanti has also extended its earthquake relief program in some VDCs in Dolakha, Kavre, Dhading and Rasuwa in coordination with District Disaster Relief Committees chaired by the Local Development Officer in the respective district.