Preparatory Meeting for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023
On October 1, 2023, a preparatory meeting was held for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 in Nepal, with a focus on People with Disabilities (PWD). The meeting took place at the NDRRMA Hall in Singhadurbar and was organized under the banner of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR), coordinated with DPNet.
Dr. Raju Thapa, Member Secretary of NPDRR and Acting Chair of DPNet, outlined Nepal's plans for International Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Day, scheduled for October 13, 2023, with a primary focus on addressing the challenges faced by PWD during disasters. He explains that the objectives include raising awareness, rectifying data discrepancies related to PWD, and integrating PWD into disaster management strategies. Proposed activities include an inaugural session with an emphasis on inclusion strategies and a technical session for PWD representatives. Dr. Thapa highlighted disparities in PWD population estimates and the importance of the planned data collection initiative, which aims to correct these discrepancies and emphasize the significance of PWD in disaster management. The expected outcomes include a more inclusive approach to disaster management, evidence-based policymaking, and improved collaboration among stakeholders for PWD in disaster situations. He also mentioned the need for the utilization of data from various sources, including the National Statistics Office, Department of National ID and Civil Registration, and Poor Household Identification Survey, to include marginalized PWDs.
Ms. Nirmala Dhital, President of the Federation of Women with Disability, stressed the need for proper data collection initiatives across the country’s seven provinces and emphasized the importance of PWD mobilization and training. She called for strong government attendance to ensure that the program's learnings are utilized as policy feedback. Mr. Nar Bahadur Limbu, Director of the Nepal Association of the Blind-NAB, advocated for expanding the pilot survey nationwide and encouraged the participation of PWD federations in the program to provide valuable input. Mr. KP Adhikari, President of the National Federation of Deaf Nepal, pointed out that while census data suggests only 2% of PWDs, the legal framework of Nepal recognizes ten types of disability, indicating that proper data collection is crucial for including PWDs in the disaster management cycle and providing policy feedback for future plans. Mr. Bishnu Sharma, from the National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal, Karnali, emphasized considering geographical variation and vulnerability when addressing the needs of PWDs.
Mr. Dinesh Gurung, Coordinator of the NPDRR-INGO Thematic Group, mentioned that all federations and stakeholders related to PWDs will be included in the program, and efforts will be made to ensure that the venue and modality of the program are PWD-friendly.
Mr. Jay Narayan Acharya, Joint Secretary of NDRRMA, highlighted that enhanced data management can include PWDs in both pre and post-phases of disaster management. He emphasized prioritizing PWDs holding red cards, as they are more vulnerable to disasters. Proper data will be used to address infrastructure and critical facility issues. The program's pilot phase will be extended nationwide, leaving no one behind. He thanked all participants and assured them that feedback from concerned authorities would be considered.
