Three provinces develop joint disaster preparedness action plan

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, June 5: Three provinces in western Nepal, namely Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim, which are regarded to be more vulnerable to floods, landslides, fires and extreme heat, have developed a joint disaster preparedness and response action plan. 

Through a three-day collective discussion programme organised by the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Law of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces in Nepalgunj, a joint action plan was prepared for disaster management, preparedness, and risk reduction and information management.

Manju Pokhrel, Chief of the Disaster Branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Lumbini Province, said that the joint action plan prepared during the discussion, organised in collaboration with the Urban Disaster and Preparedness Project, is expected to be highly effective.

Pokhrel said that the action plan was created to enhance disaster management through group discussions involving local authorities, local police, administration, Nepali Army, Nepal Red Cross, various NGOs, associations, and the private sector from all three provinces.

Rupan Gyawali, Information Officer for Banke's Disaster Management Committee, said that a collective commitment was made to effectively implement the action plan prepared from the collective discussion.

He also mentioned that the comprehensive action plan, prepared after extensive discussions and debates, included disaster management, preparedness, risk reduction, information management, documentation, immediate rescue and search operations post-disaster, medical treatment, damage assessment, relief distribution, monitoring and evaluation.

Gyawali said that it was decided to revise and implement the emergency preparedness and response plans made by the local authorities as well.

The discussion concluded that floods, inundations, landslides and fires cause the most damage, and recently, extreme heat and cold have also started causing significant damage in the provinces.