Community involvement important for effective disaster management: Minister Aryal

The mitigation of disaster risk in an effective way is not possible without community initiation and engagement, remarked Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal.

Addressing the fourth National Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction organised during the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction -2025 at Khumaltar on Monday, the Minister insisted on cooperation, coordination and participation from all sections for the disaster risk mitigation and management. “Nepal lies in a vulnerable zone for disasters. While it is a geographically beautiful nation, it is equally at a risk of various natural hazards. It incurred significant damages in the recent disasters,” pointed out Home Minister Aryal.

According to the Home Minister, Nepal has witnessed that the disaster hampered the efforts for nation’s development. The occurrences of significant earthquakes and landslides have highlighted the crucial need for better management. The government gives a top priority to the disaster risk reduction.

The Minister has expressed the view that the disaster should not be solely attributed to the nature, but also to social, structural and policy gaps. He called on multiple mechanisms from the centre to local levels working for disaster management to deliver effectively.    

Executive Director at the National Disaster Management Risk Reduction and Management Authority(NDRRMA), Dinesh Bhatta, underlined the need of making the disaster management efforts more effective and reliable. He was of the opinion of addressing the frequency of natural disasters lately.    

Australian’s Ambassador to Nepal, Leann Johnston, expressed her hope that the event would be helpful in implementing the disaster pre-warning system and exchange of good practices at the community level while addressing the challenges posed by landslides, floods and earthquakes through a gender-sensitive lens.    

At the programme organised by the NDRRMA in collaboration with ICIMOD, Director General of ICIMOD Pema Gyamtsho underscored the need of meaningful message for awareness raising, resources management and resource mobilisation in the relevant field and for disaster preparedness.