Nepal disaster report focus on reconstruction and resilience (September 2024)

The Nepal Disaster Report (NDR) 2024 attempts to comprehensively map disaster events, activities, and programmes carried out by the government, non-governmental agencies, and other humanitarian partners between 17 July 2018 to 16 July 2024. This report presents a brief background on various disaster hazards along with their impact. It briefly highlights loss and damage, impacts and trends due to these disasters.

The following are Nepal's key learnings:

• In terms of disaster governance, the overall learning for Nepal is to effectively implement the DRRM Strategic Plan of Action and meet the targets within the stipulated timeframe.
• Nepal needs well trained volunteers with Search and Rescue (SAR) operation skills in addition to local leadership in post-disaster relief, response and rehabilitation - a crucial element for effective disaster management.
• Coordination challenge exists in Nepal amongst DRR institutions, both at vertical (federal-provincial-local governments) and horizontal (inter-agency) levels.
• The central government has not been able to provide adequate technical capacity and resources to address higher risks from fire disasters to municipalities. The management capacity of municipalities to handle fires is inadequate. The local government and disaster management division/section must be well capacitated to address the needs of firefighters and fire stations, with standard operating procedures to ensure appropriate response and preparedness to fire disaster.
• Financing DRRM is another learning for Nepal as the resources available to the government from its revenue are limited, and the priority to finance DRRM is always secondary to development, especially in infrastructure development programs.
• Current systematic DRRM research and education initiatives (both formal and informal) are inadequate. As an important element of a broader sustainable development pathway, DRRM must be fully integrated with development processes through research, education, and awareness initiatives.