1. Overcoming Unsafe Condition: People led Small Mitigation<br />ActionAid DIPECHO V project funded by ECHO and co-financed by AusAID is located in low lying, river basins highly vulnerable to disasters. When the disaster strikes, its adverse impact due to inadequate capacity of people to recover deepens conditions of risk that hampers ability to lead normal lives.<br />Small scale mitigation initiative is thus critical component of the project that is expected to act as demonstration models for community and government on methods of minimizing disaster risks. The pilot initiatives will help in community led advocacy as well as scaling up to mainstream DRR into development programs. The project has small scale mitigations initiatives that include construction of twenty elevated tube-wells, two bio-dykes, two school renovations and a hospital service retrofitting. <br />“AAN believes that local people know their needs and only they can define the priorities for mitigation within a given context.” The solution to drinking water scarcity due to inundation was identified by raising handpumps above the regular flood levels, particularly helping women who bear burden of fetching water. <br />The schools too were found unsafe to withstand during earthquake and floods. To minimize the risk to children during flood, it was decided to retrofit the schools to make them flood proof and earthquake safe. <br />In 2003, NSET conducted an assessment in Bheri Zonal Hospital in Banke. ActionAid project has taken up this further and reassessed the situation through NSET with technical support from Handicap International to ensure accessibility during mass casualty times. In collaboration with hospital management, government, Handicap International and NSET, ActionAid is currently undertaking facilities and services retrofitting in Bheri Zonal Hospital in Nepalgunj so that it comes efficient and functional for mass casualty management.<br />Hospital and School safety works are thus contributing to the overall HFA priorities, more so as the year 2010-11 is declared as international year for school and hospital safety.<br />ActivityProposedStatusElevated hand pump20Completed 21 elevated hand pump with additional oneBio-dyke200 metreCompleted 163 meter bio-dyke, School block Retrofitting2Completed identification, design, estimate and government resource mobilization, orientation and contractHospital service retro fitting1Completed identification, design, estimate, orientation, and contract <br />All mitigation works are carried in a transparent manner through participation of local people and institutions, ensuring ownership from planning stage itself. Local resources including government funds have been mobilized. Additional funding has been secured from UNDP Nepal for additional mitigation works to be directly managed by the community organizations.<br />