Disaster affected local levels to get relief fund immediately

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 18: The 27th meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee has decided to provide immediate relief funds to local levels affected by floods, landslides and inundations that occurred from September 26 to 28. 

The affected areas have been categorised based on the extent of the damages they suffered into highly, moderately and minimally affected local levels.

The meeting chaired by Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak and held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority in Singha Durbar on Thursday, resolved to release relief funds to 71 local levels affected by floods and landslides. 

According to the Joint Secretary of the Authority, Basanta Adhikari, the local levels have been classified into three categories, and each local level will receive financial assistance ranging from Rs. 5 million to Rs. 10 million as relief funds.

Additionally, the meeting has decided to recommend the National Council of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to immediately provide relief to the affected municipalities through the District Disaster Management Committees.

To address the long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation, a detailed damage assessment will be conducted promptly to estimate the overall losses caused by these disasters, said  Adhikari. 

Based on the assessment, the concerned sectoral agencies will take the necessary steps to advance reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, he added.

The decision also includes requesting the government, through the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, to manage the required budget for these activities, he said.

Furthermore, a directive has been issued to the Authority to expedite the detailed damage assessment following last year’s earthquake in Jajarkot, Bajhang and Doti districts and to prepare a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of permanent private housing there.

The meeting also directed the Ministry of Health and Population to arrange free health insurance for the families of those who lost their lives in various disaster-related incidents during the monsoon period (from June 10, 2024, to October 12, 2024). Further, the meeting decided to recommend free health insurance through the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management to the government.

Recognising the contribution and involvement of various private sector organisations and non-governmental institutions in search and rescue operations after the disaster, the Authority decided to express its gratitude and, as needed, invite these entities to participate as invited members in the meetings of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee.

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel and Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Raj Kumar Gupta.