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Government officials and stakeholders have stated that relief and rehabilitation efforts for those affected by the recent Bhote Koshi floods are being conducted with a focus on addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Speaking at a national dialogue program titled "Rising from the Rubble" held in Lalitpur, disability rights activist Ramesh Pokharel emphasized the need for accurate data to ensure effective support for persons with disabilities. According to the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal, 13 people with disabilities have died in the disaster, while 18 remain missing. UNICEF reports that approximately 1,854 individuals with disabilities have been affected across four districts. Pokharel noted that while shortcomings in disaster preparedness were evident, the organization is collaborating with the government to improve data collection and service delivery. Dr. Dhruba Raj Upreti, Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), highlighted the critical role of local governments, advocating for the formation of active and capable disaster management committees at the ward level. He noted that search, rescue, and life-saving operations were the primary priorities. Due to the disruption of road networks in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli regions, authorities relied on helicopters for relief distribution and rescue. Dr. Upreti reported that over 13,500 people were rescued, and teams managed the challenging tasks of transporting relief supplies and recovering bodies. Nira Adhikari, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, acknowledged that while there were initial challenges in information dissemination and preparedness, improvements have been made. She stated that the government is actively identifying the specific needs of senior citizens, women, children, and persons with disabilities in its relief efforts. Regarding concerns raised by local representatives, such as Ramhari Neupane of Nuwakot, about the adequacy of long-term medication and psychosocial counseling, officials from the Ministry of Health and Population responded that these services remain a priority. Nishtha Shrestha, Deputy Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, stated that the ministry is consistently supplying necessary medications and maintaining psychosocial support services in coordination with local governments. Arjun Giri, President of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, noted that while mainstream media has sometimes overlooked the specific issues of affected communities, community radio stations have played a vital role in highlighting local concerns. Prabha Bogati, Deputy Mayor of Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot, emphasized that local governments are prioritizing marginalized groups, including women, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. However, she pointed out that a lack of coordination between the three tiers of government remains a challenge that requires improvement. The event, organized by the Community Communication Campaign, concluded with a commitment to continue advocating for transparency and addressing the ongoing challenges in post-disaster rehabilitation. Article source: Gorkhapatra National Daily | Image credit: Gorkhapatra National Daily
Government officials and stakeholders have stated that relief and rehabilitation efforts for those affected by the recent Bhote Koshi floods are being conducted with a focus on addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Speaking at a national dialogue program titled “Rising from the Rubble” held in Lalitpur, disability rights activist Ramesh Pokharel emphasized the need for accurate data to ensure effective support for persons with disabilities. According to the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal, 13 people with disabilities have died in the disaster, while 18 remain missing. UNICEF reports that approximately 1,854 individuals with disabilities have been affected across four districts. Pokharel noted that while shortcomings in disaster preparedness were evident, the organization is collaborating with the government to improve data collection and service delivery. Dr. Dhruba Raj Upreti, Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), highlighted the critical role of local governments, advocating for the formation of active and capable disaster management committees at the ward level. He noted that search, rescue, and life-saving operations were the primary priorities. Due to the disruption of road networks in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli regions, authorities relied on helicopters for relief distribution and rescue. Dr. Upreti reported that over 13,500 people were rescued, and teams managed the challenging tasks of transporting relief supplies and recovering bodies. Nira Adhikari, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, acknowledged that while there were initial challenges in information dissemination and preparedness, improvements have been made. She stated that the government is actively identifying the specific needs of senior citizens, women, children, and persons with disabilities in its relief efforts. Regarding concerns raised by local representatives, such as Ramhari Neupane of Nuwakot, about the adequacy of long-term medication and psychosocial counseling, officials from the Ministry of Health and Population responded that these services remain a priority. Nishtha Shrestha, Deputy Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, stated that the ministry is consistently supplying necessary medications and maintaining psychosocial support services in coordination with local governments. Arjun Giri, President of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, noted that while mainstream media has sometimes overlooked the specific issues of affected communities, community radio stations have played a vital role in highlighting local concerns. Prabha Bogati, Deputy Mayor of Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot, emphasized that local governments are prioritizing marginalized groups, including women, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. However, she pointed out that a lack of coordination between the three tiers of government remains a challenge that requires improvement. The event, organized by the Community Communication Campaign, concluded with a commitment to continue advocating for transparency and addressing the ongoing challenges in post-disaster rehabilitation.
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