KATHMANDU: The all-party meeting held by Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh on Sunday, has decided to prioritize the search and rescue operations for those affected by the floods and landslides.
The top leaders of all the parties represented in the Parliament were present in the meeting.
The key decisions made by the all-party meeting are as follows:
1- We offer our heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their lives in the floods and landslides caused by the incessant rains, and express sincere sympathy to the bereaved families. We also wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured.
2- To rescue and provide immediate shelter, food, water, and other relief materials to those affected and injured by the floods and landslides caused by the continuous rain.
3- If traffic is blocked due to rain and flood and the passengers cannot reach their destination, the concerned District Disaster Management Committee, the District Transport Entrepreneurs’ Association and security personnel will take the stranded passengers to their destination.
4- The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport will immediately use all available resources to clear landslides and reopen roads obstructed by the rain, restoring transportation in all the highways that connect the capital of the country with the rest of the country. Similarly, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation will repair damaged transmission lines and power houses and the Ministry of Information and Communications will work to restore interrupted internet and telephone services as soon as possible. The Ministry of Water Supply will take necessary actions to supply water by repairing and maintaining the water supply system that has been damaged due to floods and landslides.
5-Despite gradual improvement in the weather, public health remains a priority due to the challenging conditions created by the disastrous floods. The Ministry of Health and Population, in coordination with local and provincial governments, will implement necessary preventive and curative measures to manage healthcare services, including medicines, medical personnel, and equipment in the affected areas to reduce the potential for post-disaster epidemics.
6- The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, in collaboration with the private sector, will ensure easy access to essential goods such as food, vegetables, fruits, and cooking gas at affordable prices to assist citizens affected by the disaster, and considering the upcoming festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Chhath.
7- The ministries concerned will gather detailed reports on the damage caused to infrastructure such as bridges, roads, schools, health posts, security buildings, power structures, and the agriculture and livestock sectors and will initiate the necessary reconstruction processes.
8- The Ministry of Urban Development, in coordination with the National Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Authority, will carry out the necessary process to arrange proper housing for the rehabilitation of victims who lost their homes due to floods and landslides.
9- At this time of crisis, all political parties, all levels of government and even the private sector should work for rescue, relief and rehabilitation in a coordinated and integrated effort. An appeal will be made to all the private sector, common citizens and organizations to support the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
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