World Vision Nepal

On 13-14 October, marking the International Strategy on Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Day, People's Caravan on Disaster Risk Reduction was organised in the capital to call on the government to adopt a national strategy on disaster risk management and build a risk free Nepal.

This year, for the first time in Nepal, the ISDR Day celebration saw a parade of people from many districts and different walks of life, in particular those affected by disasters from all over Nepal, participate in a rally with slogans to invest in disaster risk reduction for a secure future of the nation, public-private partnership in disaster risk reduction and ensuring a risk free life as fundamental right in the new constitution of Nepal.

Nepal is susceptible to various natural disasters such as flood, earthquake, landslides, fire, windstorms, epidemics, droughts and other ecological hazards due to a wide range of factors. Poverty, physical isolation, lack of education and awareness in planning and preparedness, lack of infrastructure and capacity development and limited service delivery by the government further exacerbate its vulnerability. With regard to relative vulnerability to earthquake and flood, Nepal stands at 11th and 30th respectively among 198 countries.¹ In Nepal, every day two persons die due to natural disaster (mainly: floods, drought, landslides and earthquake) and 130,000 in a year. ²

World Vision International Nepal as a relief agency joined hands with likeminded organisations and supported the two-day event organised by the National Network of Disaster Affected Community, a non-governmental organisation. This people-led event included a national symposium with testimonies by the disaster affected communities and a people's rally that saw thousands on the streets of the capital.

Representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs-GON, NGO, INGO, disaster preparedness networks of Nepal, Armed Police Force, differently-abled people, disaster affected and disaster vulnerable communities from different districts of Nepal took part in the symposium which led to the formation of a declaration rationalising on the need for an immediate policy framework on disaster risk reduction and seeking measures to ensure rights of disaster affected and disaster vulnerable people.

In the same event, recalling her landslide experience and escape when she was 12, Ram Pyari Karki from Nuwakot District, talked about the importance of DRR from the perspective of a differently-abled. She said, "When I was trapped under my own house, my parents left me to save their own lives. Being disabled, I could not walk out or run for my life. Help came after six to eight hours, when I was unconscious. Luckily I was to live. Disaster is such an ill-fated thing that your own parents will not have time to save you. My plea to you all would be to consider provisions for people like us when policies are being formed."  Ram Pyari walks with a help of a calliper.

ISDR Day is celebrated every year, to mark the series of events and efforts that led to formulation of the international strategy on disaster risk reduction (Hyogo Framework for Action on Disaster Risk Reduction) as well as to reiterate the commitment of communities at local, national and international levels, including governments, donors and other stakeholders to achieve the objectives set by the action framework. With the recommendation provided by ISDR, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal has recently established a National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) where organisations working in the field of disasters will coordinate for better DRR in Nepal.

Realising the extensive need for disaster preparedness and prevention in Nepal, Dr. Govinda Kusum, Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs said, "DRR is a people's right and the rights of people can be protected only through appropriate legal and policy provisions. We are limited to responding when a disaster strikes; however, a time has come when we all should join hands to work towards identifying vulnerabilities and reducing the risk."

Isaac Anup Rana, Risk Management Officer, World Vision International Nepal says, "World Vision International Nepal is a part of a network that has been working in disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction activities. This year partnering with disaster affected people we marked the ISDR Day with a focus on getting the DRR framework institutionalised by the government so that the country is better prepared in the wake of a disaster. We are also glad that with our concerted efforts, the government has approved a national strategy for disaster management."

Humanitarian Emergency Affairs is one of the key ministries of World Vision International Nepal (WVIN), a ministry that addresses humanitarian needs, and the underlying vulnerabilities in both natural and human-made emergencies. WVIN responds to emergencies and carries out numerous disaster preparedness activities in partnership with the government, humanitarian agencies and communities.

WVIN is actively involved in disaster preparedness and risk reduction activities in all its working areas. In order to strengthen human resources capacities and disaster resilient communities, WVIN's disaster preparedness activities include organising trainings, relief kit support and simulation exercise at the community, district and national level.

1 UNDP/BCPR 2004
2 National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal 2008