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Notes to editors:  

 1. Oxfam has prepared a media briefing together with its partners in Nepal, the National Network of Community based Disaster Management Committees (NCDMC), the Humanitarian Accountability Monitoring Initiative (HAMI) and the Himalaya Conservation Group (HCG). You can download the briefing here: http://oxf.am/ZmFR

2. The Government rightly proposes that recovery and reconstruction should be equitable and inclusive ensuring benefits of the reconstruction process equally benefits all, empowering local communities in the process. In order for this to happen, Oxfam says the government needs to immediately act on the following:

  • Parliament needs to urgently pass the bill that reinstates the National Reconstruction Authority so that momentum can be regained in terms of developing recovery and reconstruction plans.
  • Urgently address barriers to the delivery of humanitarian goods and services before winter sets in.  
  • Ensure that shelter and livelihoods recovery are prioritized and fully integrated into reconstruction plans.
  • Establish clear mechanisms for the genuine participation of communities at district and village levels.

3. A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, killing almost 9,000 people and affecting a further eight million people - a third of the population. A second 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred on 12 May. Both earthquakes destroyed 605,254 houses and damaged a further 288,255. 

4. Nepal is reliant on shipments from India for all of its fuel. Protesters have blocked a number of border crossings in Nepal's southern districts, resulting in food and medicine shortages and fuel to aid agencies, restricting their movement. Strict limits have been imposed on the sale of fuel to taxis, school buses, private cars, motorcycles and scooters. The price of vital construction materials has also increased. 

5. Oxfam has reached more than 445,000 people in the last six months. The international agency is working in seven of the worst-affected districts: Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Gorkha and Nuwakot. Oxfam has distributed 55,000 shelter kits, 50,000 hygiene kits and installed almost 8,000 toilets. We have also assisted almost 10,000 households with food and 30,000 farmers with rice seeds to ensure they did not miss the planting season.