Speaking at the opening of a regional seminar on disaster response and humanitarian assistance operations on Tuesday, CoAS Gurung said, “Nepal is vulnerable to earthquake but is least prepared for a disaster situation.” [break]
He added that the regional conference will be helpful in preparing Nepal to take up challenges of a disaster situation and facilitating exchange of assistance among the regional countries.
He also lauded NA for being the “first responder” during natural calamities.
NA is hosting a three-day regional conference on disaster response and humanitarian assistance operations for the first time.
Secretary at the home ministry Sushil Jung Rana said Nepal might face a big problem if it fails to adopt preparedness measures at the earliest.
Likewise, Defense Secretary Madhav Prasad Regmi said Kathmandu under increasing risk of natural calamities due to climate change. “Nepal is vulnerable to natural calamities and should remain prepared learning lessons from Japan where Tsunami occurred,” he said.
Twelve senior NA officials, six officials from the Indian Army, six US Pacific Command senior officers, including, US III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Japan, Commanding General Lt.Gen Kenneth J.Gluek, jr, and one officer each from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have participated in the regional conference.
Similarly, representatives from SAARC secretariat, national society for earthquake technology, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), World Food Program, Red Cross Society, defense, home, finance and information and communications ministries have also participated in the conference.
Likewise, army officials from Bangladesh and Srilanka and residential military attaches from People´s Liberation Army of China, US Army, United Kingdom, Pakistan and India will play role of observers. India Army chief VK Singh is scheduled to address the closing session of the seminar.
Special NA outfit deployed at the Tribhuwan International Airport will present a demo of a hijacked plane and its rescue on the concluding day of the conference.
(Photo Courtesy: Nepal Army)
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