Kathmandu: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has emphasized the crucial role of local level governments in leading disaster risk reduction efforts in Nepal. Inaugurating the ‘Nepal Humanitarian Conference’ in Kathmandu on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day-2025, Lekhak highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to disasters due to its geographical location and reiterated the government’s commitment to disaster management through partnerships across various sectors and the formulation of necessary laws and policies.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Home Minister Lekhak underscored the importance of empowering local leadership and fostering equal partnerships to enhance regional unity and the humanitarian system. He pointed out the need for transformation in global disaster management in light of shrinking funding resources.
During the conference, Dinesh Prasad Bhatta, Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, highlighted the significant role of local communities in disaster management, noting that local bodies conducted 81 percent of disaster rescues while security agencies managed 18 percent.
The event featured discussions by NSET President Dr. Amodmani Dixit, Executive Director and Conference Coordinator Suryanarayan Shrestha, DPNet President Raju Thapa, and UN Resident Coordinator Hanna Singer, who all stressed the importance of collaboration in promoting humanitarian efforts. Attendees are also sharing inspiring stories of humanitarian assistance from Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, along with presentations on humanitarian rescue and community-led disaster management from representatives of countries including Nepal, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The conference, organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, is attended by representatives from 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as participants from Australia and the United States.