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Dhangadhi, March 5, 2025 – A successful knowledge-sharing workshop on anticipatory action was held in Sudurpashchim Province, gathering 81 key stakeholders, including government representatives, international and national NGOs, security forces and technical experts. The event, coordinated by DPNet and organized by the MoIAL of Sudurpashchim Province, was supported by NAX, DCA, IHRR, VIAMO, and NNSWA. The workshop aimed to strengthen anticipatory action in disaster risk management.

The workshop was chaired by Dr. Kamal Prasad Pokhrel, Chief Secretary of Sudurpashchim Province, with Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs and Law, Mr. Hira Sarki, serving as the Chief Guest. Special guests included Honorable Dharma Raj Pathak, Chairperson of the Social Development Committee, Sudurpashchim Province Assembly, and former Secretary and disaster activist, Kedar Neupane. Also in attendance were Mayor Kishor Kumar Limbu of Dodhara Chandani Municipality, representatives from Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and various development partners.

The program commenced with a welcome speech by Sher Bahadur Basnet, Chairperson of DPNet Sudurpashchim, followed by an introduction to the event’s objectives by Surya Bahadur Thapa. A technical session featured a compelling video presentation showcasing the impact of incessant rainfall in Sudurpashchim Province during the 2024 monsoon season. Despite historic rainfall exceeding 600 mm within 24 hours, there were zero casualties, demonstrating the effectiveness of early warning systems and anticipatory action.

Engineer Sanjay Shah, Head of the Mahakali Field Basin Office, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), delivered a presentation on forecast-based early action, highlighting DHM's role in disseminating timely weather forecasts to vulnerable communities. Representatives from Dodhara Chandani, Bhimdatta, Pashupuram, and Tikapur Municipalities also shared local experiences on disaster preparedness and response. They emphasized on the need of collective localized DRR and CCA initiatives.

Dr. Raju Thapa from DPNet presented a ten-year data analysis on wildfire trends in Sudurpashchim Province, urging provincial and local governments to adopt proactive measures to mitigate increasing forest fire incidents. He stressed the need for both policy-driven interventions and community participation to prevent widespread damage caused by wildfires.

During the remarks session, Dr. Kamal Prasad Pokhrel reiterated that Sudurpashchim Province prioritizes preparedness and anticipatory action to address earthquakes, monsoon-induced disasters like floods and landslides, and emerging risks such as wildfires. He emphasized the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in building disaster resilience.

Former Secretary Kedar Neupane highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among government agencies, security forces, and development partners to strengthen disaster response mechanisms. Honorable Dharma Raj Pathak stressed the vital role of early warning systems and the need for enhanced preparedness mechanisms at the local level to minimize disaster risks. He committed to initiate disucssion on Social Development Parliamentary Committee in this issue.

In his closing speech, Honorable Minister Hira Sarki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating indigenous knowledge with modern science and technology to enhance early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, and anticipatory action in Sudurpashchim Province. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among local governments, security agencies, and humanitarian organizations in making the province more disaster-resilient.