DPM Singh calls for UN cooperation to address Nepal's major urban challenges

Kathmandu, Nov 8: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, has urged for cooperation of the United Nations and the UN Habitat to address Nepal's major urban challenges.     

During his bilateral meetings on Friday with Kazuko Ishigaki, regional representative for the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Hanaa Singer Hamdy on the sidelines of the 12th Session of World Urban Forum (WUF12) underway in Egypt of Cairo, the Minister stressed the need for cooperation to address major urban challenges.     

Ishigaki pledged that the UN-Habitat will always support Nepal for fact and data-based projects.     

Similarly, Hamdy said the UN is always for robust cooperation for sustainable urbanization.     

She also echoed the need to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stressing on the UN Habitat's role in addressing challenges in urban development.     

The DPM Singh addressed three sessions held under the World Urban Forum. He utilised the Session on 'Cities and Climate Crisis' held on Tuesday during the WUF12, to emphasize on climate justice and sought technical collaboration and assistance to work on city-level climate adaptation for inclusive and resilient urbanization.     

 "For Nepal, the climate crisis is becoming our day-to-day reality. We are one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and we can already see its devastating impacts on lives, livelihood, and infrastructure, both in rural and urban areas," he apprised the Forum.     

The WUF12 that commenced on November 4 is concluding today. The Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive home at 10:00 am tomorrow.(RSS)