Preparation essential to reduce earthquake damage: Home Minister Aryal

KATHMANDU: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has emphasized that preparedness is essential to minimizing damage caused by earthquakes.

Speaking at the 28th Earthquake Memorial Assembly held at Bhugol Park in Kathmandu on Friday, he stressed the need to strengthen intergovernmental coordination for effective disaster management.

Home Minister Aryal said that disaster preparedness efforts undertaken by local governments must be institutionalized. “Mutual practice and learning can enhance capacity,” he said. “We must continue to strengthen citizen awareness and implement the basic indicators of resilient cities.”

Chairperson of the Assembly and Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, said community capacity should be utilized as a key tool for disaster preparedness, search and rescue, rehabilitation, and recovery. “The community is the first responder and facilitator during disasters,” she said.

“Intergovernmental coordination, knowledge and skill exchange, and integrated planning are essential to making the metropolis a disaster-resilient city. Let us work together toward this goal.”

Prem Thapa, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Committee of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said indigenous skills could be effectively used to construct resilient structures. “Our ancient structures have withstood the tremors of major earthquakes,” he said. “We should promote and preserve these skills.”

Officials from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, along with members of the Metropolitan City’s Municipal Assembly, department heads, and representatives of non-governmental and social organizations working in disaster management, participated in the program.

Earthquake Safety Day has been observed annually on January 16 to promote safe settlement development based on lessons learned from past earthquakes.