Effective Start Date: 25 April 2015
End Date: 15 May 2015

WHY - Every humanitarian emergency has a cultural dimension. When culture is affected, the local communities are the first to witness and respond. These local voices, which hold crucial information, often do not reach institutions and organizations that are in charge of responding to the emergency with the goal of recovering culture.

This initiative collects on-the-ground reports from residents, social media, news agencies, and cultural heritage professionals.

AIM

a) To provide a more inclusive and broader picture of how the culture and heritage of Nepal has been affected (such as historic houses, city squares, World Heritage Sites, traditions, collections, etc.);

b) To provide an easy, shareable, comprehensive platform for all response agencies;

c) To identify immediate needs and priorities for first aid to cultural heritage; and

d) To identify key national and local actors and their respective actions in the region.

WHO - Organizations such as ICCROM,  ICOMOS-ICCORP, Smithsonian Institution and many others. Individuals such as Neelam Pradhananga,  Dina Bangdel, Sudarshan Raj Tiwari, Tapash Paul, Elke Selter, Jonathan Eaton, Celine Allain, Rakshya Rayamajhi, Swosti Rajbhandari, Aparna Tandon, Jennifer Copithorne, Rohit Jigyasu and others.

HOW - Filling in forms on the kathmanduculturalemergency.crowdmap website; using social media hashtags, sending email to culturalemergencies@gmail.com

INTENDED OUTCOME - A report summarising the compiled information from this platform and shared widely amongst various cultural heritage agencies.