ACTED arrived in Sankhu Town within 4 days after the April 25th, 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal. ACTED immediately distributed emergency tarpaulins to the benefit of 10,000 families, with support from USAID.
Now, 4 months post-earthquake, ACTED and USAID are partnering to support affected populations, like the inhabitants of Sankhu, located in the northwestern corner of Kathmandu Valley, through the delivery of work programmes which are designed to improve medium-term food security through livelihood input and cash support.
In Sankhu, for example, 300 affected households were selected for cash-for-work activities, which provided them with an income boost to support over 1,500 people. The workers were provided with tool kits consisting of a hammers, shovels, pick axes, iron rods, pans, helmets and gloves which were used at community level to clear important agricultural land, roads, paths and other areas of earthquake rubble. Beyond the reconstruction of community areas, which were destroyed by the earthquake, participants of the cash-for-work activities are provided with the financial capacity to purchase food and supplies to support their livelihood in local markets.