The World Food Programme (WFP) marked the World Food Day by highlighting the vital role that food assistance plays during humanitarian crises, supporting recovery in the immediate aftermath of disasters, and building the resilience that is necessary to ensure food security.

“Across the world, we are the bridge between hunger and hope for millions of people,” said WFP Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. “WFP is providing life-saving food assistance in the midst of crises like the drought in the Horn of Africa.  In countries like Libya, we are supporting communities that are striving to recover from crisis, and in places like Haiti, we continue to work with governments and civil society to build resilience so that the vulnerable are better able to cope when the next disaster strikes.”

Relief, recovery and resilience are the three defining pillars of WFP’s work in more than 70 countries around the world, where we are bringing the most effective and appropriate food assistance to close to 100 million people this year.

YEAR’S THEME: This year’s theme for World Food Day, “Food Prices – from Crisis to Stability”, underlined the role that food assistance can play in protecting vulnerable communities that are affected by food price volatility.

WFP is deploying an increasingly sophisticated array of innovative tools to address the needs of people who are struggling to access the nutrition they need for their families on a daily basis – including those in many developing countries who have borne the brunt of the turbulence on global food markets.

Working with governments and the private sector, WFP is building the capacity in developing countries to produce home-grown solutions to hunger, such as the highly nutritious supplementary food products for children that we are helping to produce in Pakistan, and planning to produce in Ethiopia.

CASH OR VOUCHERS – When the biggest challenge is access to food, rather than availability, WFP is increasingly deploying innovative tools such as e-vouchers, or cash to help families who are unable to afford the food that is sold in their shops and markets.

 SUPPORTING SMALL FARMERS – Food security in developing countries can be strengthened by empowering smallholder farmers. WFP’s Purchase for Progress (P4P) initiative is a pilot programme in 21 countries that is providing farmers with the expertise to improve the quality and size of their yields, and better connect them to markets.

“In Nepal, over 3.5 million people are currently considered to be food insecure, and 41 percent of the population is estimated to be undernourished,” said WFP Nepal Country Director, Nicole Menage. “With its extensive field presence, WFP in Nepal provides  food and cash assistance to more than one million people through food/cash for assets, support to refugees, micronutrient supplementation, school meals and maternal and child health care projects, particularly in the isolated regions of the Mid and Far Western Hills and Mountains.”

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.

Eighty Percent Nepalis Use No Soap To Wash Hands

Most of the communicable diseases are caused due to dirt in the hands, but many people have been losing life untimely for lack of knowledge that hands should be kept clean.

 In Nepal, more than 80 percent of people have been washing hands without the use of soap; the reason is-- illiteracy and lack of access to soap because of poverty. 

As diarrhea and respiratory diseases are caused if we do not wash hands, it should be taught to children from their early age right from the school.

The World Hand Washing Day- 2011 was observed with the slogan ‘Let’s wash hands and protect ourselves from diseases’.

An awareness program was organized in Jawalakhel by the Ministry of Health, and Population, National Information and Communications Centre and the UNICEF, jointly.

On the occasion, Minister for Health and Population Rajendra Mahato said the message that we should wash hands should be reached to the masses.

Health Secretary Dr. Sudha Sharma said programs on this should be made practical and effective for keeping citizens healthy, whereas Joint Secretary Narayan Prasad Malegu and officiating chief of Department of Drinking Water and Drainage Birendra Pradhan also expressed their views.

Syakar Takes Wraps Off Honda Brio

The wraps are off the much-awaited small car from Honda. Syakar Trading Company, sole authorised distributor of Honda for Nepal, has rolled out the Honda Brio here.

 With this, Honda has entered the fiercely competitive entry-level small car segment where companies like Hyundai and Maruti-Suzuki have a strong presence.

According to Syakar Company, the car is a perfect package for new era and it embodies the best of Honda’s technologies to deliver fun and agile driving, fuel efficiency, spaciousness and safety. The car delivers a mileage of 18.4 kmpl and has a turning radius of 4.5m, making it a perfect machine for congested traffic. “With this car, we aim to cater to the demand of medium class people,” said Syakar Company Chairman Padma Jyoti during the launch, adding that the company was glad to present the car that was launched in the global market just 15 days ago. “Brio will help Nepalis realise their dream of having a Honda car.”

On the occasion, Honda Siel Cars India Director-Sales and Marketing Seki Inaba said the car was specifically designed for the Asian market. “Our commitment to the Nepali and Asian markets is visible as the car has been launched here shortly after its global launch and the machine has been designed as per the requirement of this region,” Inaba said.

The Brio is equipped with a four cylinder 1.2 litre i-VTEC engine which delivers a maximum power of 88 PS at 6000 RPM and maximum torque of 109 Nm at 4600 RPM. The five-speed manual transmission with optimized gear ratios offers excellent low RPM acceleration and smooth high RPM performance, delivering excellent fuel efficiency and nimble performance, said the company.

 While the McPherson strut suspension in the front and H-shaped torsion beam rear suspension ensure stable handling and comfortable ride, the electric power steering delivers easy steering at low speeds and stable steering at higher speeds for a natural, stress-free steering feel.

While still being a compact car, the Brio offers spacious interior. “The car is small, but it has a very good interior space. Honda has squeezed each and every minute component to make the car a comfort machine,” said Syakar Director Saurav Jyoti. The ‘Double Triangle Form’ further advances its appeal.

 As far as safety features are concerned, the Brio is equipped with active and passive safety technologies which include dual SRS front airbags with i-SRS airbag in the driver’s side, Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and front passenger seat belts.

The front body structure is equipped with pedestrian injury mitigation technology which is designed to absorb impact energy.

The car is available in six colour options—rally red, urban titanium, energetic blue, alabaster silver, crystal black pearl and taffeta white. While the basic variant, Brio EMT has been priced at Rs 2.09 million, the SMT, S(O)MT, and the most feature packed VMT are available for Rs 2.21 million, Rs 2.49 million and Rs 2.59 million, respectively.

India Pledges Rs 24.56 M For Sanskrit School Building

India has pledged to provide Rs 24.56 million for the construction of a three storied building for a Sanskrit school in a western Nepalese district.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), Division Office, Palpa and Sanskrit Secondary School, Ridi in Gulmi District for providing the grant assistance.
 
Established in 1912 as a Lower Secondary School and subsequently upgraded as Secondary level in 1959, the Sanskrit Secondary School is the only school in Gulmi District providing education in Sanskrit language.
 
Its existing infrastructure is old and inadequate to cope with its expanding requirements. The grant will be used for constructing the three storied building for the school under Nepal-India Economic Cooperation Programme.
 
The new building to be constructed with Indian grant assistance will help in creation of better facilities for over 400 students, about half of whom are girls.
 
 
In addition to this school, two projects in Gulmi District have already been completed with India’s assistance of Rs 17 million, while work is underway for two projects at a cost of Rs 28.
88 million.
 
The Indian Embassy has recently gifted six ambulances to various organisations for use in Gulmi  District.

Eearlier Indian government provided assistance of NRs. 3 crores for Rupandehi District.

Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), Division Office, Rupandehi District and Pratiman Neema Memorial Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding for providing Government of India grant assistance of NRs. 3 crores for construction of a double storied training institute building under Nepal-India Economic Cooperation Programme.

This is the tenth development project in the Rupandehi District being undertaken with Government of India’s grant assistance under Small Development Projects.

Pratiman Neema Memorial Foundation, a non-profit making social organisation, is working for the upliftment of backward sections of the society through a variety of programmes.

Thai Support To Police Hospital

 Maris Sangiampongsa, Thai Ambassador to Nepal representing the Royal Thai Government, offered financial aids in the amount of NPR 250,000 to Dr. Kashi Ram Kunwar, Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP), at Nepal Police Hospital, to buy medical equipments for the hospital on 13 September 2011.

In addition, Ambassador Maris also handed over a mobile medical equipment worth around  80,000 baht which was donated by the Mt. Everest Expedition Team from Thailand sponsored by Thai Beverage Public Company Limited after the completion of their mission in May 2011.On this occasion, they also discussed the possibility of seeking cooperation between Thailand and Nepal such as technical assistance on medical science in terms of short training courses.

Changu Sattal Gets US Ambassador’s Fund

The U.S. Embassy has announced that the Living Traditions Museum is this year’s recipient of funding from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). With a grant totaling $95,800 USD, (around Nepali Rupees 71 Lakhs) this project will support restoration of the deteriorating historic buildings that surround the ancient Changu Narayan temple complex in Bhaktapur district, one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

 This project will restore approximately many of buildings that form the temple courtyard.  After restoration, the Living Traditions Museum plans to install a self-supporting cultural museum, which would maintain the buildings in good condition.  The project will not only preserve one of Nepal’s most unique architectural monuments, but it will also include a comprehensive permanent display of ethnographic art including demonstration, recording and training of traditional Nepali art processes.

Over the past nine years, the U.S. Government has committed $1,434,851 dollars (approximately 10 Crore 76 Lakh Nepali rupees) to restore and preserve eleven cultural sites throughout Nepal.  Projects previously supported by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation include the restoration of Kal Bhairav and Kageshwor Temples in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, restoration of Nag Bahal Hiti in Lalitpur, renovating ancient Buddhist chhortens in upper Mustang, and continuing the restoration of Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur and ancient monastery in Pangboche, Solukhumbhu.

Established by Congress in 2001 and administered by the U.S. Department of State, the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation annually provides direct grant support for the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects and collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression in countries around the world selected through a highly competitive process.  Since its inception, the Fund has demonstrated America’s respect for the cultural heritage of other countries by supporting more than 500 cultural preservation projects in more than 100 countries.

British Gurkha Killed In Afghanistan

The British Embassy has announced the death of a Gurkha soldier, serving with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, during operations on Saturday, 15 October 2011 in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand province Afghanistan. 

A British Army spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: 'It is with great sadness that I announce that a soldier from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, was killed during operations with Afghan Police partners to extend security in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand.  'Whilst protecting a checkpoint, his team came under insurgent small arms fire, during which he received a fatal gunshot wound.

Event Marks Adoption Of Legislation

 The U.S. Embassy to Nepal, the United Nations Human Rights Office in Nepal (OHCHR), and a coalition of Dalit organizations organized a special event to raise awareness on the recently enacted Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act of 2011.

 Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Jyoti Sanghera, OHCHR Chief, the National Dalit Commission, and the Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization addressed the event.

Senior Nepalese government officials, Constituent Assembly members who were instrumental in passing the legislation, the National Human Rights Commission, plus representatives from Dalit and human rights organizations also attended the program.

IFC Trains Poultry Farmers

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing training that can help small-scale poultry entrepreneurs and farmers in Nepal increase their revenues and gain better access to markets. 

In partnership with two Nepalese poultry firms, Probiotech Industries and Avinash Hatchery, IFC conducted a Training of Trainers workshop for 20 local veterinarians in Kathmandu. 

The three-day workshop included sessions on how to strengthen management capacity by improving financial literacy, business acumen, and developing technical skills that improve productivity. It also included technical sessions on poultry housing and brooding management, vaccination, bio-security, and broiler diseases. 

A half-day field visit to Banepa in the Kavre district to work on brooding management was also part of the course. Training for farmers will commence from October 2011.