Those coordinating the relief and reconstruction effort in Nepal are about to make some tough decisions.
Of the $423 million United Nations flash appeal for the Nepal relief effort, only about 20 percent has materialized. And as organizations shift to reconstruction in the aftermath of last month’s deadly twin quakes, the challenge moves from establishing funding priorities to choosing between them.
When it comes to shelter, aid groups working in crisis recovery are perennially torn between the need for emergency shelter and the need to rebuild long-term, sustainable housing. In Nepal, this dilemma is compounded by the fast-approaching monsoon season. Temporary, emergency shelter is no longer an option because the go-to materials — namely, tarpaulins and plastic sheeting — can’t withstand Nepal’s extreme weather conditions.
About the author
Molly Andersmollyanders_dev
Molly Anders is a former U.K. correspondent for Devex. Based in London, she reports on development finance trends with a focus on British and European institutions. She is especially interested in evidence-based development and women’s economic empowerment, as well as innovative financing for the protection of migrants and refugees. Molly is a former Fulbright Scholar and studied Arabic in Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco.
