KATHMANDU: After inspecting areas affected by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, President Ram Chandra Paudel has called for high-priority efforts to rescue victims and provide relief and support for reconstruction.
Addressing the nation, President Paudel drew the international community’s serious attention to the risks arising from climate change and urged concrete action to ensure climate justice for countries like Nepal that are disproportionately affected by its impacts.
Expressing deep appreciation for the courage and dedication of personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, as well as health workers, local representatives, government employees and volunteers who have been working around the clock despite significant risks, Paudel urged authorities to continue search operations despite the difficult terrain and hazardous conditions.
He paid tribute to Nepali citizens and foreign nationals who lost their lives in the flood, including those who were in Nepal for trekking or spiritual journeys, and expressed his heartfelt condolences to their families.
The President also expressed gratitude to neighbouring friendly countries and the international community for providing search and rescue personnel, technical experts and essential equipment during the emergency. He said coordination and cooperation would be maintained with diplomatic missions of the countries concerned regarding affected foreign nationals.
Paudel said the entire nation shared the pain of families whose loved ones remain missing and assured them that search operations would continue.
Emphasising the need to ensure food, clean drinking water, safe shelter, medical care and psychosocial services for rescued citizens, he called for special protection for children, senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities.
He also urged authorities to exercise utmost care and sensitivity while identifying the deceased and to view the concerns and demands of disaster victims not as criticism but as guidance for finding solutions.
Stating that this is not a time to become entangled in political disputes, blame and confrontation, Paudel called for national unity, solidarity, reconstruction and economic recovery.
He also stressed the need to learn lessons from the disaster and reconsider Nepal’s development model in light of the growing risks posed by climate change and natural disasters.
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