1. Policy Environment for Disaster Risk Management
(National Disaster Management Organization Perspective)
Iswar Raj Regmi
Under Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs
Nepal comes one of the most disaster prone country in south Asia and in the world.
Meaning and definition of disaster may be different in different place and mind of
men. But in my opinion and in the context of Nepal it is a natural phenomena like
earthquake, floods and landslides mud and stone slide, thunderbolt, drought, wind
storms, avalanches, Debris Flow, GLOF, cloud burst, hail storm, fires, epidemics, loo,
sitlahar and ecological hazards etc. A recent study (UNDP/BCPR 2004) ranked
Nepal 11th most risk country to earthquakes 30th for flood risk. Another study
classified Nepal as a hotspot for geographical and climatic hazard. Devastating affect
of disaster hindered overall development efforts in our country.
Population growth, low economic development and degradation of environment are
some other causes for disaster. Our country comes into seismic hazard wholly. Most
of the hill side of the country is prone for landslide and the Terai plain area is prone
for flood (Water Log).
We experienced devastating Earthquake 8.4 RS 1934 (1990 BS). It killed 8519
people, and destroyed more than 43342 homes, the epicenter of this Earthquake was
in the eastern part of Nepal but major threat was experienced in Katmandu. Other
major Earthquake ware recorded in 1255, 1408, 1681, 1810, 1833 and 1866. Two
other major earthquake 1980 (Bajhang) and 1988 (Udaypur) each measuring 6.5
Richter scale collectively killed nearly 1000 persons and destroyed a lot of property.
Rapid population growth poor land use planning, precarious settlement patterns,
inadequate enforcement of building codes were some causes of such loses.
Flood and landslides of 1993 looks high in the recorded event which damaged
billions of property. Population growth, misuse of land and natural resources,
degradation of environment were some causes for such disaster.
Strategy plan, policy frame, legal environment and institutional capability (knowledge,
facility, equipment) are some necessary instrument for due management of disaster
risk. Today most of the countries of south Asia have developed strategies, policy
frame and legal environment. Though Nepal comes one of first countries in south
Asia for creating policy and legal environment for disaster risk management. In 1980s
(2039 BS) Nepal developed legal frame in the field of natural disasters. But now it is
realized that this legal frame is very poor for the management of disaster. It only
emphasis on emergency rescue and relief. Lessons have learned from national and
international forums on the need of new and revised legal frame in the field of
disaster management.
Disasters are not new to mankind. But in recent time increased frequency as well as
the intensity, disaster management has attracted immense public interest at the
national and international level. Almost half of the disaster in the world occur in Asia.
Some of the reasons for increase in the frequency of natural disaster are population
explosion, uncontrolled urbanization, unplanned land use, and global warming.
In our neighboring country India, there is new disaster management act 2005. Under
this act the national disaster management authority (NDMA) was created, chaired by
the Honorable Prime Minister of India as the Apex body for disaster management.
Similarly state disaster management authority is headed by the respective chief
ministers or the governors. District disaster management authorities are being
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2. headed by the respective district collectors and co-chaired by the elected
representative of the respective districts.
Other neighboring country peoples' republic of china there is central committee of the
communist party of china and the state council pays great attention to disaster
reduction. This committee is highly responsible to overall goals for sustainable socio-
economic development. There is disaster reduction plan of the people's republic of
China (1998-2010). It is implemented by the state council, all regions, departments
and sectors have strengthened the construction of disaster reduction projects and
related works. Now from 2005 the state council is renamed the China national
committee for natural disaster reduction. An expert commission was created and
comprehensive coordinating agencies for disaster reduction were established in
some localities. There are commission and institution in some provinces.
UN world conference on IDNDR (Yokohama 1994) UN World conference on disaster
reduction, Kobe Japan 2005. International consensus on disaster reduction in the
form of Hyogo framework of action (HFA) 2005-2015 (which needs to be translated
into the national context for achieving stated goals). National NGOs like NSET,
NCDM, DP-Net have inspired Nepal Government to redefine the existing policies and
legal frame, plan, policies, legal frame and strategy have to be based on the
Nepalese ground realities and need to Nepali people. We have developed a draft
document in policy, strategy and legal frame with the current international
understanding changing new Nepal's concept of Nepali people with due respect of
HFA 2005.
1) Before describing the policy and legal frame of disaster in Nepal it will be fruitful to
give short description of HFA.
168 Governments including Nepal accepted 10 years plan to make this world safer
from natural disasters than today. So HFA is only global blueprint for disaster risk
reduction. The main motto of this framework is to reduce losses in lives as well as in
social, economic and environmental assets of communities as well as countries. The
principal priorities areas of HFA which are the main international guidelines for our
policy and legal frame are as follows:
• Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong
institutional basis for implementation.
• Identify asses and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning.
• Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and
resilience at all levels.
• Reduce the underlying risk factors.
• Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.
Other international guideline for our disaster policy and legal frame are ADPC,
SAARC works in risk reduction. Treaties, understanding done by the Nepal
Government or the concerning sector to international community and nations. The
major national guideline in this concern is running constitution, guideline of
constitutional assembly (An elected body by the people of democratic republic of
Nepal), Running rules and regulations National planning guideline, elected
government decisions etc.
With above national and international guidelines some legal and policy frames are
developed as drafts.
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3. Disaste
Response
(Rescue/Relief
Preparednes
Rehabilitation
Reconstruction
Prevention
,
A) Policy in frame or organization
Running:
• Central disaster relief committee (chaired by home minister)
• Regional Disaster Relief Committee (chaired by Regional Administrator)
• District Disaster Relief Committee (chaired by Chief District Officer)
Purposed:
• Disaster Authority Governing Council - chaired by P.M.
• Relief and Rescue Committee - Chair, MoHA
• Mitigation and Preparedness Committee - Chaired MoLD.
• Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee - Chaired by MPPC
In the field level:
• Regional Disaster Management Committee - Chair - R. Administrator
• District - Chair - C.D.O.
i. Preparedness and mitigation sub committee - chaired district committee
precident or member
ii. Rescue and Relief sub committee - Chair C.D.O.
iii. Rehabilitation and re-construction sub committee - chaired PPOC
• Municipalities and Village level committee - chair by the municipal or the village
committee head
Present Organizational Structure:
Central ND Relief Committee
Regional ND Relief Committee
District ND Relief Committee
Local ND Relief Committee
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4. Purposed Organizational Frame:
Disaster Management Governing Authority (C-L)
Preparedness, Rescue and Rehabilitation
Mitigation Relief Regional Level Reconstruction
Committee Committee DM Committee Committee
District Level
DM
Committee
District Level District Level District Level
DM DM DM
Committee Committee Committee
Municipalities and Village Level DM Committee
2) Disaster phenomena is not only a concern of one ministry or one organization, it is
cross cutting issue and relates with many other ministry and agencies. National and
international help will need at the time of disaster. It is also a human phenomena. So
in present and purposed set organization in central level different ministries
departments with other central level agencies are related. Major govt organization
involved in central level disaster risk management are as the following:
• Ministry of Home Affairs
• Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives
• Ministry of Health and Population
• Ministry of Physical planning and works
• Ministry of Local development
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Defense.
• Ministry of External Affairs.
• Ministry of Water resource
• Ministry of Communication
• Ministry of Forest and Soil conservation
• Ministry of Women Children and Social welfare
• Ministry of commerce, industry and supplies
• National Planning commission
• Nepal Army
• Nepal Police
• Armed Police Force
• Department of Mining and geology
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5. • Department of Meteorology
• Department of water induced disaster prevention
• Social welfare council
• Nepal Red Cross Society.
• Nepal scout
• Ministry of education and sports
• Ministry of Science and Technology
• Ministry of Land Reform and management
Government can nominate two reputed persons in the CDRC, central disaster relief
committee can invite concern member of constitution assembly from the disaster
affected districts.
Tenth five year and running three year plan have also referred to disaster
management.
3) Some Major guiding policies:
A) Running Disaster Victims relief guideline:
i) District disaster relief committee has funded to reserve minimum 100000
and regional office 500000 for emergency use.
ii) In a casualty from natural disaster victims nearest family have to give
25000 as the help from the government.
iii) Victims whose house and other property is totally destroyed 5000 Rs have
to give for necessary arrangement.
iv) Victims whose house is totally destroyed or who have no chance to shift
in another place for shelter can be given up to 10000 Rs. If there is special
condition central disaster relief committee with the recommendation of
district DRC can give extra 15000 Rs.
v) Disaster wonded people's whole treatment cast will be paid by the
government and 1000 will be given to the victims to return his house form
the hospital.
vi) Some wood for construction house will be given by the ministry of forest
and soil conservation with discount cost to disaster victims.
C.D.O. can spend extra 5000 RS for disaster activities.
Regional office has to monitor at least once a year to each district about
disaster dids within their own areas and have to report to the ministry.
One most important thing is that information has to give to concerning district
disaster relief committee within one moth from the time of disaster happening
for taking help from the side of government.
B) Some purposed guideline:
i. National development plan will adopt disaster management as their own parts.
ii. Construction of public building and other structural works will adopt anti disaster
technique; this will be adopted for former public building also.
iii. All construction works and development activities will be monitor with the view of
disaster management.
iv. Special activity will forwarded for low income barcet people to take safe from
disaster. Skill will be developed to local community to fight against disaster.
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6. v. Settlement in vulnerable areas will control and will be transfer to other safe
areas. In such deed low income women, old citizens and backward people will
get priority.
vi. Natural resource and environment conservation works will done, training and
education will manage to develop lower level human capacity.
vii. Reconstruction plan will made after the happening of disaster public property like
bridge, road, electricity, communication, drinking water will reconstructed.
viii. Possible transport and communication will be managed at the time of disaster
happening.
ix. Research work will conducted in the sector of climate change, land use,
increasing the temperature and other sectors concerning to disaster.
x. Facilitate NGOs/INGOs and other agencies who want to serve in the filed of
disaster.
4) Recently done works in the sector of disaster management:
• Draft paper of legal frame and policy has prepared.
• National strategy for disaster risk management is prepared with the consultation
of different concerning sectors.
• Model agreement had been done with UN-OCHA (united nations office for the
co-ordination of human affairs) and implementation works, is going ahead with
the consultation of concerning sectors. After complete this, humanitarian
assistance by UN sector will be easy at the time of serious disaster.
• Regional administrative office have given monitoring responsibility in their
concerning areas. They have to report in the MoHA at least once a year.
Standard has also revisited for the monitory help at the time of natural disaster from
the side of government.
Focal point is established in each concerning central agencies, such agencies are
also developing manpower and other capacity management.
B) Latest disaster information database in Nepal:
i. 2004 :- human loss 310, affected family 11730, estimated loss Rs 989909000
2005 :- human loss 192, affected family 16997, estimated loss Rs 341095212
2006 :- human loss 221, affected family 4273, estimated loss Rs 381969055
2007 :- human loss 137, affected family 19222, estimated loss Rs 412706074
ii. Disaster Website is lunched for easy information in the sector of disaster.
iii. National platform in the sector of disaster is ready to implementation after the
legal permission of Government.
iv. There is one fund in the name of P.Ms disaster relief fund. Interested
organization, agencies and persons can give cash donation in this fund. This
fund can be utilized at the time of serious disaster happening. This fund can
also use for organizational disaster help with the recommendation of district
disaster relief committee.
v. Some projects like Avian Influenza control in the assistance of World Bank is
running within the department of health and animal health. Other projects are
also running within the concerning Government and non government
agencies in the field of disaster management.
Government has to serve and facilitate more and more in the system of federal
republic in coming days. People are eagerly waiting to take more facility by the
government.
We must have to promise heartily we who are engaged in the field of disaster, have
to serve Nepali people without personal and organizational benefit directly or
indirectly.
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7. 5) Other things have to include in the field of disaster management in Nepal are the
following:
• Be responsiveness in people's condition at the time of disaster.
• Develop information channel and make easy in disaster in every place.
Develop participation and involvement of people for improving disaster
service with better schemes.
• Review laws, policies, systems and use new technology to serve the people
in the time of disaster
• Develop best practice and encourage serve to disaster victims.
• Make sure to give effective service to disaster people at the time of disaster.
6) Last but not the least, we have to set standard, be informative, more participative,
promotive, fair treatment, right doing using resource effectively with innovation and
service oriented in the filed of disaster management.
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