THIMPHU (Kuenselonline.com) – The Department of Disaster Management yesterday received 2,050 dignity kits from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, for the people affected by the tremors of September last year.
More than three months since the tremors, the emergency relief was handed over to Home Minister Minjur Dorji by the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck.
UNFPA’s Assistant Resident Representative, Yeshey Dorji, said the government had requested 1,000 kits when the tremors struck. UNFPA however gave 4,000 more kits – of which, 3,950 are kept to be used for emergencies.
“We gave more kits than requested because its requirement might have increased following the assessment of disaster over time,” he said.
The 5,000 kits are worth Nu 5.3 million. There are different kits for men, women, babies and nuns.
The dignity kit for men contains a gho, innerwear, soap, towel and condom; while the kit for women contains a kira, soap, packet of sanitary napkins and female condom.
Dorji said there are also kits designed for babies and nuns separately. “Each baby kit contains six pieces of cotton cloth diapers and a blanket,” he said. “While a nun kit has a robe, soap, towel, innerwear and packet of sanitary napkin.”
Officials said, according to the report submitted to them, a total of 5,550 people were affected on 18 September last year. There were 550 nuns, 500 babies, 2,000 men and 2,500 women.
The 2,050 kits received yesterday are for 500 men, 500 women, 500 babies and 550 nuns.
“These kits will be distributed to the people of four worst affected dzongkhags,” said Disaster Management Department Director General Namgay Wangchuk.
On why the emergency relief came just three months later, Wangchuk explained they first assessed the homes damaged, and then distributed CGI sheets and tents. “After the initial assessment, we learned the number of people who needed these kits.”
The UN system has given Bhutan a disaster relief fund of about USD 1.7 million for the September tremor.
– Yangchen C Rinzin
