Updated Report on 83 Open Spaces Identified for Humanitarian Purposes in Kathmandu Valley

Nepal is prone to a multitude of disasters that cause loss of lives, property and infrastructure. Likewise, Kathmandu is located in a high earthquake risk zone. The concept of open-spaces identification for disaster preparedness in Nepal started initially in 2009 following the Koshi floods response. IOM, under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs and as the co-lead of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster, conducted a detailed study and identified 83 open spaces that could be used for humanitarian purposes in an event of a disaster. The report on 83 open spaces was endorsed by the council of ministers and published in the national gazette in April 2013, describing the locations and the rules set forth around the application of the open spaces in an event of a disaster. In addition, the report also helped in identifying the catchment areas for possible displacement and details of current infrastructure of those areas. 

This report analyses the current status of 83 open spaces in Kathmandu, protected for humanitarian purpose in case of a major crisis and the changes that has occurred in each of the spaces over the period of seven years. In addition, the report captures evidence-based data, such as total usable area and critical facilities in the vicinity of the open space that are important for humanitarian response, such as hospitals, schools and police stations, water and sanitation facilities. Lastly, the report provides a set of recommendations to the Government of Nepal to address the identified gaps, taking into consideration the roles and responsibilities of each tiers of the government for disaster preparedness in the new governance structure.