Kathmandu: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak stated that the subordinate bodies under the Home Ministry and other relevant agencies are in place for receiving early warnings and responding to natural disasters. At the meeting of the Committee for Public Policy and Delegated Legislation under the National Assembly on Sunday, Minister Lekhak stressed the need for an effective early warning system to minimize the damages caused by natural disasters. “We can prevent the loss of lives and properties if the forecasts are effectively communicated,” Lekhak suggested, claiming that the government was delivering on disaster preparedness with top priority to early warning.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Minister emphasized that Nepal is vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, torrential rain, drought, landslides, floods, and inundations, cautioning that any disaster could hit anytime, thus underscoring the importance of early preparedness. He also highlighted current challenges such as floods in some parts of the country and drought leading to an acute shortage of drinking water in southern plains, with lightning being another issue in the country.
The Minister shared that instructions were issued to all security agencies under the Ministry to coordinate efforts and streamline disaster preparedness and response efforts. For effective disaster preparedness and response, security agencies such as the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police have been asked to systemize the information system and share early warnings in advance, he informed the Committee.
Post-disaster operations such as search, rescue, relief, reconstruction, and rehabilitation will be prioritized, he pledged. He apprised the Committee about the ongoing search and rescue operation in the wake of Rasuwa flooding where, according to him, 20 Nepali nationals were reported missing from Nepali territory and 11 from Chinese territory. Of the missing ones, the dead bodies of 11 were found, while the identities of only two dead bodies were established.
The Minister further shared that families of the missing ones not found within 10 days would be provided with relief amounts. He articulated the government’s readiness for the reconstruction of infrastructures and rehabilitation of those affected by the massive flood that occurred last Tuesday.
Earlier, the Committee members had suggested the government impart training to people about how to deal with disasters. They had also drawn the government’s attention towards providing safer workstations and accommodation for the security forces. The Committee members appreciated the government’s disaster response efforts in the recent flooding in Rasuwa.