Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), spoke to Nepali Times about Nepal's progress in meeting Millennium Development Goals and in implementing disaster risk reduction measures.
"Given the high earthquake risk and other hazards in Nepal, UNDP has been working with the government on disaster risk reduction for many years. UNDP and a range of partners also helped the government develop a new National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management which was approved in 2009. It signals an important shift in policy from focusing mainly on relief and response to a more balanced approach to risk reduction overall."
Clark also mentioned that Haiti was a "tragic reminder" that disaster risk reduction measures need to be seriously considered.