Itahari, May 30:

A roundtable meeting of stakeholders convened by the International Committee of Red Cross and the Eastern Regional Working Committee of the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) today agreed to put an end to the misuse of ambulances and attacks on emergency service vehicles.

Ambulance operators from Sunsari and Morang expressed their commitment to prevent misuse of ambulances.

Former chairman of the NRCS Ramchandra Adhikari urged the administration to take action against anyone threatening ambulance drivers and misusing Red Cross vehicles for vested interests.

Political leaders from the region, who also attended the meeting, promised to protect ambulances from mob attacks. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Sunsari coordinator Shiv Narayan Mahato expressed regret that his party cadres had attacked ambulances at Duhabi and other places during the Madhes agitation. “I assure that MJF cadres will not vandalise any ambulance,” Mahato said, calling ambulance drivers to follow regulations.

Lochan Dhamala of the CPN-Maoist expressed his party’s commitment not to vandalise ambulances.

The meeting also decided to review ambulance service charges in view of fuel scarcity and hiked fuel costs. The meeting has also agreed to periodically check the condition of ambulances and urge the local administration to provide security to ambulances during strikes and other protests.