Kathmandu, February 1

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the government was making sincere efforts to build disaster resilient communities learning from past mistakes as well as from the experiences of other countries.

Addressing a two-day workshop on ‘Collective Awareness Platforms for Sustainability and Social Innovation for Making Crises Resilient Community’ organised here today, he said, “Vulnerability of human lives is palpable in every major natural blow. However, calamities and disasters are not induced by nature alone. We have seen and experienced around the world many calamities induced by unsustainable human actions. With our collective efforts, human-induced disasters can be prevented. We can also reduce the impact of natural disasters and make people better prepared to cope with unforeseen eventualities.”

He stated that every major disaster teaches invaluable lesson and helps innovate ways and means to be resilient and this probably was the secret of survival of human civilisation. “After every major calamities, human societies have emerged better prepared and more resilient. Natural disasters are unpredictable and they know no borders.  They are indiscriminate and can strike anywhere. Preparedness alone can reduce the vulnerability and prevent the loss of lives and properties,” warned the PM.

He said information is critically important in disasters that can save lives. “Technology can support us in making informed decisions based on science and research rather than intuition. Given the specificity of Nepal and our typical geography, we need to remain prepared for a variety of disasters, instil awareness among the people, and utilise tools of preparedness, such as early warning system, emergency response and relief, and arrangements of critical logistics,” he said.

The prime minister added, “In our own experience, geologists and experts had vaguely warned us about the possibility of major disaster in the Himalayan region. Yet the earthquake of 2015 struck us when we were not fully prepared. Adequate preventive measures could have minimised the death toll and prevented damage and destruction. However, the government of Nepal was quick to respond, within hours, utilising its available resources and institutions.”

According to Prime Minister Dahal, the National Reconstruction Authority is undertaking its mandated responsibilities with all requisite institutional and resource backing.

The government has decided to provide Rs 300,000 per to each of the earthquake affected families. Distribution of the second tranche of this support has already begun.