Nepal marks World Humanitarian Day with call for locally led response and Good Samaritan protections
On August 19, 2025, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) marked World Humanitarian Day in Kathmandu with support from DPNet, NSET, NEAR Network, UN agencies, and NGOs under the theme “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities.” Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak inaugurated the event, stressing regional cooperation, local leadership, and stronger municipal capacity. Key highlights included the Asia-Pacific localization movement, the Kathmandu Covenant, and a call from DPNet Chair Dr. Raju Thapa for a Good Samaritan law to protect community responders - a proposal welcomed by the government. Speakers emphasized that most rescues in Nepal are led by local actors, reinforcing the need for investment in preparedness, volunteer training, and supportive legal frameworks.
Second DRR Dialogue with the Home Minister Held
On 1 August 2025, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in coordination with DPNet, convened the second national dialogue in Singhadurbar, Kathmandu to assess institutional and policy reforms for DRRM in Nepal. Chaired by NDRRMA Chief Executive Er. Dinesh Prasad Bhatt and attended by Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Ramesh Lekhak, the forum gathered senior government officials, political leaders, UN agencies, experts, and DRR stakeholders. Discussions focused on governance structure, legal and regulatory gaps, financing, data systems, capacity challenges, and implementation of existing policies. The Home Minister endorsed the series and called for a strategic, long-term vision for NDRRMA, improvements in early warning systems, and integration of non-state actors, while welcoming actionable reform recommendations.
National dialogue held on post-disaster challenges facing landless people
On July 31, 2025, a national dialogue in Kathmandu addressed post-disaster challenges faced by landless populations. With 65 participants, including 32 MPs, the event emphasized risk-sensitive land policies. Speakers highlighted legal reforms, disaster vulnerability, and community inclusion. DPNet pledged continued advocacy and submission of recommendations to strengthen land governance.
DPNet Presents Chobhar Fact-Finding Observation to NDRRMA Team
A field mission by the Disaster Preparedness Network–Nepal (DPNet) has concluded that widening or blasting the Chobhar Gorge would do little to curb Kathmandu Valley floods and could, in fact, unleash new geological and cultural risks. The findings, presented on 7 July 2025 to the NDRRMA, come amid public chaos over rumours that the gorge’s fractured bedrock will be dynamited to speed Bagmati River outflow.
NPDRR Meets to Revitalize Thematic Committees and Finalize the New Fiscal-Year Programme
The National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) opened the new fiscal year with a high-level meeting on 7 July 2025 at the NDRRMA. Chaired by NDRRMA Chief Executive and NPDRR Chair Dinesh Bhatt, the gathering drew senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) Dr. Tok Raj Pandey, line ministries, security forces and provincial governments, as well as representatives of United Nations agencies, bilateral donors, international and national NGOs, the private sector, academia, the media and disaster-affected communities.
DPNet Carries Out Observation Visit to Chobhar Gorge
Chobhar is now at the center of discussion following a rumor that the government is going to blast out bed and side rocks of the gorge to widen and deepen the Bagmati River ‘to solve the flood problem in Kathmandu valley’. The Chobhar Gorge is the outlet of the Bagmati watershed including Kathmandu valley, and surrounding mountains. In the recent years, Bagmati River and its tributaries get flooded during monsoon and affect adjacent settlements and urban infrastructures like roads and bridges. One of such devastating flood occurred on 28 September, 2024.