EU Ambassador inaugurates a sanitation and hygiene facility at the Sudurpaschim borders
Dhangadhi: European Union Ambassador to Nepal, Nona Deprez has inaugurated the newly constructed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) protection-based facilities at Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki check points innSudurpashchim province on July 18.
The facilities were built for “Effective case management by strengthening isolation centers and ground crossing points (GCPs) management for rapid response and preparedness against COVID-19." The project was implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the leadership of the Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population, with the ge financial support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid, while their implementing partners are Save the Children and Nepal National Social Welfare Association.
“It is our responsibility to provide basic facilities at the border points for those thousands of Nepalese migrant workers travelling to and from India, they must undergo medical examinations,” said Ambassador Deprez addressing the inauguration event. “I am pleased and thankful to the European Union for these facilities such as a waiting room, drinking water taps, and bread-feeding center which have been established as part of the Health Desk at the borders to facilitate a smooth health checkup for migrant workers who are contributing to sustain their households as well as to the country’s economy,” she added. Though the data on Nepalese migrant population in India is sketchy, thousands of Nepalese migrants travel across the borders every day for seasonal work while many go for extended period of time as their livelihood strategy.
The COVID-19 has added additional hurdles for these migrant workers crossing the border. Before these facilities were constructed, there was no sheds at the Health Desks to protect the migrants from rain or sun light, there was no facility for drinking water or proper toilets.
“The facilities have been designed to ensure that they are gender-sensitive and disability-friendly, making it accessible for everyone,” said Lorena Lando, IOM Chief of Mission for Nepal. “Ultimately, we want to contribute to the sustainable management and preparedness for migrant flows at each crossing point to promote safe, orderly and dignified migration,” Lando added.
The project aims to support the local and provincial governments of six border points including– Jamunaha and Krishnanagar of Lumbini, Inaruwa/Birgunj of Madhesh province, and Kakarbhitta of province 1, alongside the two aforementioned locations – in strengthening the overall management at entry points. Similarly, health-based facilities, WASH has facilitated a protection mechanism to raise awareness about human rights and easy access to immediate basic protection services.
The project is intended to address the problems identified on the border while crossing different check points following the second of wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country in mid-2021, which included combating low testing capacity, insufficient screening, recording and reporting of migrant movement and COVID-19 positive cases. They lacked protection, referral services and access to isolation centers for identified positive cases.