Nepal to apply Sendai pact for risk reduction
KATHMANDU, MAY 26
Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) President Dr Akihiko Tanaka said on Monday that Nepal would be the first United Nations member to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-30), a guiding agreement for disaster risk reduction adopted by UN member countries in Sendai, Japan, last March.
The framework calls for helping disaster-prone least developed countries and island countries with internal support as well as technological transfer.
Addressing a conference entitled Build Back Better Reconstruction Seminar for Nepal, Tanaka said that since Kathmandu and remote areas in nearby districts were still vulnerable to pent-up seismic pressure, the region is at risk of suffering from more catastrophic earthquakes in the future. “This is why it is critical to build back better by investing in preventative disaster risk reduction measures to rebuild a more disaster resilient society,” he said.
Praising the government for the leadership demonstrated in the response effort, Tanaka said the earthquakes had killed over 8,000, wounded 17,000 and affected up to 8 million Nepalis and had caused immense damage to homes, healthcare facilities, schools, social services and other key infrastructure as well as to the country’s rich cultural heritage.
“I hope that the result of this seminar will serve as the foundation for reconstruction planning in Nepal. And I am confident that all international partners will work together to support Nepal’s leadership in building a stronger and more resilient society. Let’s rebuild a better and stronger Nepal.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat praised the initiative of donors and the international community and said that Nepal had received good support from the global community in rescue and relief. However, he insisted that the country needed much more to recover from the disastrous earthquake.
“Roads have been damaged, and thousands of schools and hundreds of hospitals have been destroyed. The government’s revenue collection is certain to be impacted,” said Mahat, emphasizing the need for increased foreign assistance to Nepal. Mahat, however, was confident that the country would rise from the current disaster.
Likewise, National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Govinda Raj Pokharel said the government was planning to expedite reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks by making use of local resources.
“The monsoon is a few weeks away. Hence, we need to expedite the reconstruction and rehabilitation process to keep people safe,” Pokharel said. Stating that Japan had experience in disaster management, Pokharel urged Jica to share its experience with Nepali authorities.
Around 20 percent of the country’s population has been affected by the earthquake, and the government is working to make the life of the general people normal, Pokharel said.
Source: ekantipur
