Disaster response mechanism in place: Minister Lekhak

Kathmandu, July 13: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak said 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 effective early warning system to minimize the damages caused by natural disaster. "We can prevent the loss of lives and properties if the forecasts are effectively communicated," Lekhak suggested, claiming that the government was delivering on the disaster preparedness with top priority to the early warning.     

Stating that Nepal is vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquake, torrential rain, drought, landslide, flood and inundation, the Minister cautioned that any disaster could hit anytime and thus emphasized early preparedness. He also pointed out current challenges such as flood in some part of the country and drought leading to acute shortage of drinking water in southern plains while lightning being another problem in the country.     

The Minister shared that instruction was issued to all the security agencies under the Ministry to coordinate efforts and streamline disaster preparedness and response efforts. For effective disaster preparedness and response, the security agencies such as Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police have been asked to systemize the information system and share the early warning 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. Out 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 the families of the missing ones and not found within 10 days would be provided with the relief amount. He articulated the government's readiness for reconstruction of infrastructures and rehabilitation of the affected ones in the massive flood occurred last Tuesday.     

Earlier, the Committee members had suggested government imparting training to people about how to deal with disasters. They had also drawn the attention of the government towards providing safer work stations and accommodation for the security forces.     

The Committee members appreciated the government's disaster response efforts in the recent flooding in Rasuwa.(RSS)