Disaster risk management

Time to remember ways to reduce disaster risk! With dry season in full swing at the moment, disaster related to it appears ready to trouble Nepalis like in the past. A few wild fires, some storms, some drought and heat wave have already affected some people, forest areas and settlements. Preparation for reducing its risk, however, appears absent in real terms. Although making people aware of the precaution against dry season disaster is talked in public forums, the right message has not yet reached the grass-root level. As a result of the same, people do not know how to reduce the disaster risk in dry season. All three phases of disaster demand equal attention from the people in general, administration concerned and three levels of government. Pre-disaster preparation for reducing the risk is as important as the task of rescuing from the disaster. Similarly post-disaster rehabilitation is also important. If people’s resilience could be increased through sensitization, education, preparedness and handy tools, the adverse effect of disaster could be reduced. The point is very important because, history demonstrates, the country usually spends a huge amount of public resources during disaster every year. A careful planning for training people at the grass-root level about minimizing the risk of dry season disaster is a must. The same should be facilitated by the three levels of government; the local municipality levels or ward levels should be prepared for this well in advance. Those who are in decision making levels should be specially careful about the disaster risk management. They should not take the theme as a textual theme or talking point for a seminar. They should act to develop a thorough structure, ensure necessary resources and facilitate management and monitoring for translating the disaster risk reduction scheme into a working reality. Political will for the same should be developed appropriately. Since the disaster risk reduction is a noble cause, all should seriously take responsibility for this. Nepal and Nepalis will benefit immensely if this year’s dry season disaster risk could be reduced.