KATHMANDU: Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security Sita Badi has said the rehabilitation of flood-affected people should not be limited to providing safe housing, but should prioritize the safety, care and social protection of women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and others requiring special protection.
Minister Badi made the remarks during a meeting with Madhav Prasad Aryal, chairperson of Uttargaya Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, at the ministry on Monday. They discussed the situation in areas affected by the Bhotekoshi floods, relief and rescue efforts, temporary housing, long-term rehabilitation and social protection of affected people.
Badi said the actual needs of disaster-affected people should be identified and immediate relief, long-term rehabilitation and social protection programs should be implemented in an integrated manner.
She emphasized that the circumstances and needs of vulnerable groups differ and that targeted programs should be introduced to provide them with appropriate protection and services.
Badi said the ministry was advancing a “care plan” for children who have lost their parents due to floods and other disasters and those requiring special protection.
The plan aims to strengthen the state’s role in their upbringing, health, education, psychosocial support, family reunification and future management, she said.
She also said preparations were underway to identify suitable locations and operate temporary protection service centers in accordance with the “Guidelines for Operating Temporary Protection Service Centers for Disaster-Affected Children, 2083.” Such centers will be established soon in areas where they are needed.
The centers will provide immediate protection, health and psychosocial support, family tracing and reunification, and alternative care where necessary for disaster-affected children.
Badi said the ministry was also preparing special protection and social security package programs for flood-affected women and adolescent girls, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
She said programs would be designed to identify groups that are more vulnerable during disasters and provide them with targeted services, assistance and protection.
“The impact of a disaster is not the same for all citizens. Women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities have different needs. Therefore, from relief to rehabilitation, the state’s presence must be ensured by placing their specific needs at the center,” Badi said.
She said the government would coordinate with local levels to ensure accessible services and housing for persons with disabilities, safe accommodation and care for senior citizens, security and necessary protection for women and adolescent girls, and a safe environment for children.
Badi stressed that affected people should not be resettled in areas where they could face renewed risks. She said safe locations should be identified and systematic, long-term rehabilitation plans developed.
She also called for effective coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments, with rehabilitation efforts based on local needs, risks and available resources.
Uttargaya Rural Municipality Chairperson Madhav Prasad Aryal briefed Minister Badi on relief and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas, the situation of affected families and preparations being made by the local government for rehabilitation.
Aryal said consistency should be maintained in data and details of affected people, while temporary housing and long-term rehabilitation should be managed systematically. He also called for assistance received from various non-governmental and international non-governmental organizations to be mobilized according to the actual needs of affected people.
The meeting also discussed identifying the actual needs of affected people, access to relief and protection services, temporary housing, long-term rehabilitation, and targeted protection and social security for women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Minister Badi said post-flood rehabilitation would be taken forward as a comprehensive campaign aimed at ensuring the lives, safety, dignity, care, social protection and future of affected citizens, rather than being limited to rebuilding houses and physical infrastructure.
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