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Constructed by Â鶹ÊÓƵ, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Civil Aviation Authority, Humanitarian Staging Areas are an integral part of Nepal¡¯s emergency response operations. With a storage capacity of 1,535 metric tons, once completed, the new HSA and others planned will be used to store humanitarian relief supplies, such as shelter materials, health and hygiene kits, and water and sanitation equipment - enough to serve more than 60,000 people. They will also be equipped with logistical items, such as generators, satellite phones, fuel, boats, and search and rescue tools.

¡°Investing in emergency preparedness ahead of disasters is one of the most effective ways to protect assets and save lives. We are pleased to be working with Â鶹ÊÓƵ and partners in capacity strengthening of government and humanitarian agencies to help each province respond to disasters faster and better. The Humanitarian Staging Areas are a perfect example of such efforts,¡± said Ambassador Pollitt.

The establishment of the HSA network across the country follows the success of the UK-funded Kathmandu Humanitarian Staging Area, which was launched one month before the devastating 2015 earthquake. The activation of the facility helped humanitarian partners reach the affected population quickly. Without it, some 21 days could have been needed before the relief efforts reached those in desperate need. The HSA at Dhangadhi is the first of its kind at a provincial level.

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The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ - saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. Â鶹ÊÓƵ works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

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