DPNet's 14th General Assembly Held
The Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal (DPNet) held its 14th General Assembly at the Everest Hotel in Baneshwor, Kathmandu on January 20, 2023. The event was chaired by the DPNet Chairperson, Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa and attended by high-level officials, disaster management experts, and representatives from various organizations. The opening session was followed by the welcome speech of DPNet Vice Chair Dr. Raju Thapa.
The Executive Director of NSET Mr. Surya Narayan Shrestha gave a presentation on the role of disaster management networks in Grand Bargains and Localization. He emphasized the importance of local communities and their involvement in disaster preparedness and management. Dr. Raju Thapa presented the core humanitarian standards (CHS) and requested participants to provide feedback for the revision of the standards.
The advisor of WHDRRP Ms. Indu Pant Ghimire, stressed that DPNet should focus on leadership and community participation, gender and social inclusion, and communication strategies in DRR. Mr. Bhagawan Shrestha, Chairperson of the Federation of International NGOs (AIN), expressed his interest in cooperation and coordination between AIN and DPNet. He emphasized the importance of climate change and disaster management in all local governments of Nepal. Executive Chief of NDRRMA, Mr. Anil Pokhrel highlighted the DPNet role in promoting a culture of safety in all three tiers of the Government. Chief of Disaster and Conflict Management Division of MoHA, Mr. Pradip Koirala, recommended DPNet to engage in various lobbying and advocacy activities.
The Chief Guest of the program, Dr. Gangalal Tuladhar, stressed the need for DPNet in coordination and networking. He cited examples of past disasters in Nepal, such as the Gorkha earthquake and the Koshi flood, and highlighted the importance of preparation and campaigns for disaster prevention. He also called for continued efforts to adapt to the impact of climate change and to focus on related programs.
Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa acknowledged the advice of all speakers and shared his thoughts to develop a disaster-resilient community adopting a whole-of-society approach. He finally thanked all and closed the inaugural session, inviting all DPNet members to participate in the internal General Assembly session.
