News

Celebration of “World Humanitarian Day 2022”

  Aug 31, 2022

The celebration of world humanitarian day 2022 was organized by National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) in coordination with Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal (DPNet) and in collaboration with AIN Task Group on Disaster Management and Climate Change (AIN-TGDM CC) on 19th August, 2022 on Hotel Himalayan. The program was chaired by Mr. Anil Pokhrel, Executive Chief of NDRRMA and the Special Guests of the program were Mr. Pradip Kumar Koirala - Chief of Disaster and Conflict Management Division, Ms. Anita Niraula, Joint Secretary of NDRRMA and Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of DPNet. Altogether 55 participants from DPNet Board, DPNet Advisory, NDRRMA, nine thematic group coordinators of NPDRR, AIN-TGDMCC and other relevant stakeholders.

Major Highlights:
Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of DPNet
Welcomed everyone in the program. World Humanitarian Day has been celebrating in close coordination with NDRRMA and various stakeholders. Since the country is prone to disaster, women are more vulnerable to disaster and the humanitarian workers have played a vital role in DRRM for a very long time. We should also focus and ensure the rights of humanitarian workers. The security force has also played a very important role during and after the disaster. We need to give tribute to those humanitarian workers who lost their lives during the service.
 
Ms. Anita Niraula, Joint Secretary of NDRRMA

Nepal is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, so it requires the effective disaster preparedness and response mechanism. Many people have lost their lives during the disaster and more areas are vulnerable to disaster. The emergency preparedness and response assessment 2022 – 2030 has been carried out to provide a comprehensive work plan for this year to strengthen the emergency preparedness and response system in Nepal. The findings of the report were about the equipment and information about technologies used in disaster and financial analysis about the disaster. There are the innovations such as establishment of national disaster training academy, strengthen disaster training school, local government organizing EPR trainings, providing insurance for EPR personnel and volunteers, basic first aid and relief trainings, basic EPR, CADRE, MFR and CSSR trainings needs to be integrated into general training of security agencies. The national volunteer bureau formation and mobilization platform was to maintain a robust database that houses records of volunteers, manage volunteers, to implement user centric approach and customizable web platform for flexibility and functionality and to support local level involvement in managing and maintaining volunteers. The major plan of this bureau is to increase volunteers in prompt disaster response, build long lasting relationships with volunteers, more effectively track their involvement and user friendly solutions to identify the most valuable volunteers. There is a platform for volunteers where the registration of volunteers, platform of features and components and sign up for volunteers was shown.

Mr. Govinda Rimal, Technical Advisor of DPNet
The humanitarian principles are humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. The study about the decentralization disaster risk governance in Nepal: ground reflection was carried out in support of Action Aid. The objective of the study was to review the roles and responsibility delivered by the local level, to document the challenges and opportunities experienced by the local government during DRRM development plans, to assess the changes experienced by the vulnerable communities and to document about DRR governance decentralization to local and vulnerable communities promoting transparency and accountability and promoting youth and leadership in DRRM. The study was carried out in 16 municipalities of 3 provinces about DRRM funds, enforcing building codes, formation of disaster response communities, conducting emergency mock drill, maintaining fire brigade, establishing EOCs and developed DIMS and about maintaining and updating records of the disaster lost, damaged and destroyed data during disaster. The study focused on addressing the issues of the vulnerable communities, studying about the shifting power to the provincial and local levels, knowledge about the accountability mechanism at the local government, about adoption of new approaches and initiatives, harmonization of climate change and disaster risk reduction. As per the finding of the study the federal and provincial government should provide technical support to local governments to roll out the provision of the DRRM act, guidelines and regulations. Provide technical and financial support to pilot new technology and skills, enhance the coordination role for better planning and budgeting, map the plan, policies and guideline on DRR/CC and formulate an integrated planning tool for DRR/CC endorsed and owned by the ministries. The local government invest in institutionalization of an inclusive DRR structure at palika, ward and community levels, operationalize LDMC, CDMCs and task forces developing an annual plan to promote youth and leadership, promote community’s traditional knowledge and skills for DRRM, pilot new approaches and techniques like cash transfer and so on.

Comments for the presentation
Ms. Luna Khadka, WVI
Among all the emergency operation centers, DEOC is comparably weaker. What are the responsibilities of a development partner to strengthen DEOC? The disaster data in the websites are still not updated.

Dr. Basanta Adhikari, Pulchowk Campus
Urban code and settlement are totally different terms in the presentation. It would be better if NDRRMA use new Nepal’s map.

Mr. Man Bahadur Thapa, ADPC
We are preparing a National Disaster Report every two years. Now we should plan to prepare the ‘National Humanitarian Report’ in the gap years. There are many documents related to DRRM but these should be practical. The recommendation part should be in practice as well.

Mr. Devraj Gautam, CARE Nepal
There should be clear structural mechanisms in DRRM intervention. Women empowerment, capacity building, training for people with disability and raise voice mechanisms should be focused more.

Mr. Jagarnath Kurmi, NCDMC
Disaster affected communities should be involved in every disaster related program. We should not forget that women empowerment has not been completely achieved and we should work more on this further. MoHA, NDRRMA should address the voice of the affected community and these communities should be trained more. The local levels should be monitored closely and frequently. Flood related insurances should be ensured.

Mr. Bishnu Prasad Timilsina, DiMaNN
We need to ensure DRR localization. Volunteers should not be influenced by any political parties and they should be impartial. Every palika should have good access to fire brigades and safety measures.

Mr. Shyam Sundar Jnavaly from NDRC
The program should be always focused on the theme. The objective of world humanitarian day should be a major highlight of the program. The content of other disaster days should not be mixed. We should talk about the capacities of humanitarian workers. Now we should focus on preparing humanitarian reports.

Mr. Kilash Rijal, DPNet
Everyone should be aware of humanitarian principles. Security forces along with civilians should be trained about disaster preparedness. The volunteers should have knowledge about the DRRM and should meet the criteria of minimum humanitarian standard. We should also ensure the volunteer’s safety.

Ms. Chetana Lokshum, Technical Advisor of DPNet
We specifically prioritize physical health only but we should address the mental health situation as well. Disaster directly affects mental health as well so we should go on a holistic way.

Ms. Shakti Gurung, DPNet
There is still a gender gap in LDMC, this should be addressed.

Ms. Anita Niraula (comments incorporated)
The development partners can help in logistics and other necessity items for EOC. The information on the website will be updated timely. The National Humanitarian Report was a great idea. Women empowerment has not been achieved so we should work on this. The local team should be more dedicated and strong during and after the disaster. The role of the volunteers should be remarkable. The skilled volunteers should be identified and managed. We should also understand the importance of humanitarian day. Humanitarian training should be standardized and mental health also should be included. GEDSI should be in a holistic way.

Mr. Govinda Rimal (comments incorporated)
The policy documents in local government are usually copied from the sample policy formulated by the Federal Government. We should identify the priority of the area and prepare different local policy level documents. We should also ensure the inclusiveness of WDMC and LDMC. Psychological counseling has been started at the municipal level.

Panel Discussion
The panel discussion session was carried out where there were seven panelists and one moderator. The seven panelists were: Mr. Sanjib Oli from Bigu Rural Municipality, Mr. Umesh Dhakal from NRCS, Mr. Sanu Ram Dahal from Fire Brigade, Bhaktapur, Mr. Thakur Bhandari from FECOFUN, Mr. Santosh Gurung from Nepal Army, Mr. Amit Singh from Armed Police and Mr. Kuber Kadayat from Nepal Police. Mr. Daya Sagar Shrestha from National Campaign for Sustainable Development was the Moderator for the discussion. The panelist shared their experiences and recommendations related to disaster.

Mr. Daya Sagar Shrestha
The frontline humanitarian has contributed a lot during and after the disaster. The experiences and learnings from humanitarian frontline workers will be helpful in upcoming days.

Mr. Sanjib Oli
During the initial phase of working, there were ambulance standards to mobilize during the disaster period. The most trained humanitarian was APF and Nepal Army, so we should focus on mobilizing their skills and the training schools should also be organized. There are critical moments during the disaster and the first responder of the disaster is local so the effective relief policy should be built on the local level and start working from there. Sometimes the relief is given too late, this should be addressed. People tend to get lost during disasters which sometimes could not get recorded, so some reliable policies should be implemented.

Mr. Umesh Dhakal
Nepal Red Cross Society was formed in 1863 with the aim of helping people during and after the disaster. At the initial phase, NRCS focused on relief. The community is affected first and they are the first responder, so NRCS focus on community level. NRCS has globally the largest number of volunteers. Now we should focus on resilience, emergency, WASH, cash and voucher assistance, strengthening logistic capacity and other balanced approaches. We should have knowledge about both natural and human induced disasters and focus more on national and international coordination. If we properly mobilize the internal resources with technical capacity, this only may be enough. NRCS has always worked and is always ready to work on all three levels.

Mr. Sanu Ram Dahal
Bhaktapur Municipality has focused on Fire Brigade management training, rescue and relief during the disaster. It has worked on emergency response as well.

Mr. Thakur Bhandari
There is always confusion whether to count animal attacks as a disaster or not. The disaster should be identified differently. Disaster has affected the wildlife as well. Forest fire, animal attacks have affected the community. There should be insurance for animals as well. The central, provincial and local government should work in different ways but first priority should be given to the local level.

Mr. Santosh Gurung
Nepal Army has always played a vital role in disasters as a front liner. Nepal Army has worked in a productive and effective way. It has worked strongly in rescue. Now we should focus on manpower production and mobilize urban rescue and search teams.

Mr. Amit Singh
It is very difficult to record the civilians and provide compensation that were lost during the disaster. Now our priority should be mobilizing national level schools for disaster, first aid effective training, volunteer training and other humanitarian training.

Mr. Kuber Kadayat
Everyone panicked at first glance of the disaster and there was a lack of coordination at first. For this, a safe place should be identified before and marked, strong communication should be built and rescue should be provided. The minimum requirement during the disaster document is being prepared. Every police force should be trained with minimum humanitarian standard training. The training should be drilled and updated from time to time. It would be better if the DRRM course is included in the school syllabus.

Open Discussion:
  • The firefighter is a very risky job. We need to ensure proper equipment and uniform are used during firefighting.
  • Animal attacks should also be addressed. The proper plan and policies for the conservation of flora and fauna need to be designed.
Felicitation:
Mr. Anil Pokhrel, Executive Chief of NDRRMA, Ms. Anita Niraula, Joint Secretary of NDRRMA and Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa provided felicitation to six organizations.
Nepali Army, Army Headquarters, Bhadrakali, Kathmandu
The felicitation was given for the role played by the Nepali Army in the forefront of disaster risk reduction and management. The entire ranks of the Nepali Army who worked round the clock to provide humanitarian aid during various disasters and in the management of the Covid-19 epidemic and who were injured, maimed and sacrificed their lives while performing their duties.

Nepal Police Head Office, Naxal, Kathmandu
The felicitation was to appreciate the role played by the Nepal Police family in the forefront of national disaster risk reduction and management. The entire ranks of the Nepal Police Organization, who worked round the clock during the disaster to provide humanitarian aid and provide civil protection, and those who were injured, maimed and sacrificed their lives while performing their duties.

Armed Police Force Nepal, Head Office, Halchok, Kathmandu.
The award was for appreciating the role played by the Armed Police Force Nepal, Head Office in the forefront of national disaster risk reduction and management. All members of the armed police force who worked round the clock during disaster management and those who were injured, maimed and sacrificed their lives in the course of performing their duties to provide humanitarian aid.

Juddha Barun Yantra Office, Bhaktapur.
The award was given for the role played by the Juddha Barun Yantra in the forefront of national disaster risk reduction and management. The humanitarian service is rendered here in the role of protecting the people's wealth by being always ready during the disaster risk created by fire and by leading the fire control work by showing presence in response during disaster risk.

Nepal Red Cross Society, Kathmandu.
The highly appreciative of the role played by NRCS in being at the forefront of national disaster risk reduction and management was awarded. The incomparable humanitarian service rendered by trained volunteers from here and there in disaster preparedness, search, rescue and relief during disaster and post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction at every stage of disaster risk reduction was appreciated. NRCS has always been prepared and disaster prepared during disaster risk.

Shukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital, Kathmandu
Shukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital has highly appreciative of the role played by them in being at the forefront of national disaster risk reduction and management. The incomparable humanitarian service rendered by all the health workers and health volunteers involved in the preparation, response and vaccination management of the epidemic disaster risk reduction including covid seen in the health sector.

Remarks:
Mr. Sajan Neupane, Coordinator of AINTGDMCC
Different communities are affected differently in disaster. Women and people with disabilities are highly affected during disasters. AIN has been focusing on capacity enhancement, localization and humanitarian principles for a long time.

Mr. Umesh Bhatta, Secretary Member of NARMIN
We always say the local government should do this and that but proper authority and resources are not given. Local government has worked a lot during COVID pandemic but the relief fund has not been released in time. The risk and difficult work has always been assigned to the local government without proper equipment and resources.

Mr. Anil Pokhrel, Executive Chief of NDRRMA
In recent years, we have lost 28 humanitarian workers from various sectors. We have lost many volunteers, Army, firefighters and Nepal police during disasters like earthquake, landslides, floods and forest fires. We have lacked prioritizing the safety of humanitarian workers. The early warning system in case of flood is good but there are no such systems for landslides and lightning. From now onward we need to focus more on resilience, reconstruction and providing reliable training. He then finally thanked everyone for participating and formally closed the program.