4th National Disaster Risk Reduction Conference started in Lalitpur

Lalitpur, October 27. On the occasion of International Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2025, the 4th National Disaster Risk Reduction Conference (NCDRR) with the slogan "Fund Resilience, Not Disasters" has started from Monday at ECMOD in Khumaltar, Lalitpur.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) organized the conference in collaboration with Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (NPDRR). Co-organizers of the event are Dipinet and Isimaed.

Inaugurating the conference, Home Minister Omprakash Aryal said that although Nepal is naturally beautiful, it is a very risky country in terms of disasters. He said, "Disasters should also be seen as a policy weakness. Disaster areas are the highest priority of the government and efforts have been made for risk reduction, but it is not enough."

Minister Aryal mentioned that the Sendai Framework Action Plan is being implemented effectively and said that cooperation between various agencies is being strengthened. According to him, "disaster education should be promoted formally and informally, the government cannot do it alone - everyone's cooperation is necessary."

Rashini Shrestha, Joint Secretary (NDRRMA) while giving a welcome speech to the conference said that as per the invitation of the United Nations, October 13 is being celebrated as International Day every year and this year's program is focused on reducing human and physical damage.

Raju Thapa, president of Depinet Nepal, informed about the work done by the organization in disaster management and said that the conference will have seven sessions and 24 thematic sessions will be conducted. He said the conclusions of the conference would be compiled later as proceedings.

Ram Bahadur KC, Adviser of Depinet Nepal, presented the Monsoon Monitoring Report, while Ram Bahadur KC, Deputy Secretary of NDRRMA, gave a presentation on “Disaster Management: Achievements, Challenges and Gaps in Nepal”. A special report on Thame flood was also released in the program.

In the event, the executive director of Isimaed. Pema Gyatso recalled that all kinds of disasters are causing great damage in Nepal and said, "This day should be meaningful in actual management rather than just a formality."

Australian Ambassador to Nepal Lynn Johnston also participated in the conference.

Executive head of NDRRMA E. Dinesh Bhatt said that this year's slogan is very relevant in the context of Nepal. He said, "The Thame, Rasuwa and Transborder floods have taught us a big lesson. Due to poor sewage management in Bata, it became difficult to control landslides."

Bhatt said, "The central government does not have to be active in small incidents if resilience can be developed in the community." According to him, the Sendai Framework aims to make the Nepali community sustainable and resilient by 2030.

In the two-day conference, policy makers, experts, development partners, representatives of the academic sector, civil society and the private sector will exchange new practices and experiences in disaster management.

Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development Kulman Ghising will participate in the closing ceremony tomorrow.

According to the organizers, the conference will assess the progress achieved by Nepal under the Sendai Framework (2015-2030) and the National Disaster Management Policy and Action Plan (2018-2030) and set future priorities.