Nepal: OCHA update on disaster preparedness
Extract from OCHA Situation Updates, Issue no. 60 of the Nepal Monthly Situation Update, Kathmandu, 13 May 2010, (covering the period 1 April-7 May 2010).
Disaster preparedness
Coordination with government and cluster partners increased during past months. During April there were a series of consultations around disaster preparedness with the active involvement of the government and humanitarian community. A National Level Disaster Preparedness and Pre-monsoon Planning (DP and PP) workshop was held from 8-9 April in Kathmandu organized jointly by Government, UN agencies, Red Cross Movements, and I/NGOs.
The workshop reviewed the effectiveness of 2009 disaster preparedness and response activities and agreed upon a preparedness plan for 2010.The workshop came up with 22 recommendations as a way forward. These recommendations were further tabled and endorsed from the CNDRC meeting.
On 19 April, a joint meeting (government disaster focal desk and operational IASC members and IASC focal points from the government) was held in Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). Construction of the temporary embankment has started along the Rapti River in Holiya VDC of Banke District through the Janta Tathbandhan Program, with the Water Induced Disaster Prevention (WIDP) Office is taking the lead. Around NPR 7 million ($97,223) have been allocated for the bamboo piling, which according to experts should last at least two years.
An interaction with CA members was organized jointly by Environment and Child Concern Organization (ECO)-Nepal, Disaster Preparedness Network (DP Net), the National Network of Disaster Affected Communities (N-NDAC) and the Disaster Management Journalist Association (DIMJA)-Nepal with the support of Oxfam on 2 April. The objective of the interaction was to ensure the rights of disaster affected people and vulnerable communities through enactment of a pro-people Disaster Management Act and Policy which were drafted in 2007.