Disaster Resilient Communities in Nepal by 2050

Emergency response training equipment from USAID’s PEER-IV handed over to Nepali security agencies and NRCS


Emergency response training equipment from USAID’s PEER program are now handed over to national disaster response agencies in Nepal. Mr. Anil Pokhrel, Executive Chief of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in a program organized at Singha Durbar on April 5, 2022, handed over training equipment sets for Medical First Response (MFR), Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) and Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE) to Nepali Army (NA), Nepal Police (NP), Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS). The equipment sets are provided from the USAID funded and NSET implemented Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER Stage IV). On the occasion, Chief Executive Mr. Pokhrel also handed over fire response equipment provided by US Department of Defense to response agencies. For their respective institutions, Colonel Roj Pratap Rana from Nepal Army, SP Arun Poudel from Nepal Police, SSP Bhupendra KC from Armed Police Force and Executive Director Mr. Umesh Dhakal from NRCS received the equipment.

Addressing the handover event, Executive Chief Mr. Anil Pokhrel from NDRRMA shared that Nepal has been witnessing new kind of   disaster risks and they are heightened in past 10 years despite all our collective efforts to reduce it and prepare against it. Adding that forest fire and Covid-19 pandemic as major such examples, he emphasized the need of joint efforts of Nepal Government, development partners & organizers and community people. On the occasion, Mr. Pokhrel also thanked USAID/BHA and US Department of Defense for continuous support in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management initiatives of Nepal.

Mr.  Pradip Koirala, Joint Secretary and Head of Disaster and Conflict Management Division of Ministry of Home Affairs stressed on the need of strengthening capacity of local government and making federal government accountable on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) as country’s constitution has clearly identified the role of all three tiers of governments on the Disaster Risk Reduction. Mr. Koirala also emphasized the establishment of national level institution for firefighting considering the forest fire related incidents in Nepal in past decade although the local governments are operating firefighting facilities on small scale at the local level.

Mr. David Mann, Deputy Director of USAID Nepal highlighted the need of working together in disaster preparedness in Nepal so that the huge resources to be used in disaster response activities could be drastically reduced. He further appreciated NSET’s contribution in disaster resilience building including promotion of Building Code Implementation in Nepal and capacity enhancement of people on disaster response activities. He also highlighted the collaboration with government of Nepal and NDRRMA regarding DRR efforts in Nepal and stated the handing over the firefighting equipment was the part of its continuous efforts.

Mr. Surya Narayan Shrestha briefly informed the background of the PEER project implemented by NSET. Briefly reading out the lists of training equipment handed over to the securities agencies and NCRS, Mr. Shrestha highlighted the role and contribution of PEER graduates during response activities of Gorkha Earthquake in 2015. He also thanked all the stakeholders of the PEER project for helping successful accomplishment of the project.

On the occasion Mr. Rameshwor Marhattha, Joint Secretary at NDRRMA had made the presentation on distribution plan of fire-fighting equipment provided by Ministry of US Department of Defense. Mr. Sundar Sharma, Under Secretary at NDRRMA, made presentation on Fire Safety in Nepal.

The handover program that was graced by senior officials and representatives from various implementation partners and stakeholders of PEER including Dr. Dinesh Kafle, Executive Director from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Mr. Santosh Gyawali from USAID and Mr. Rajesh Khadka, Manager Initiative Outdoor among others. 

The PEER Stage IV was implemented by NSET with funding support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) in four countries, namely, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka also got involved in some of the regional activities. Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force are the important implementing partners of the PEER implementation in Nepal and sets of equipment for various emergency response training purpose have been provided to them to be used in different stages of PEER. 

About 2,400 responders have graduated in different emergency response courses, i.e., MFR, CSSR, Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE), Swift Water Rescue (SWR) and CADRE courses during the PEER implementation in past 2 decades in Nepal.  A total of 60 people representing various organization participated the program.

Following are different emergency response training equipment sets handed over to the institutions under PEER Stage 4.

Nepali Army
• CSSR replacement items 
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items along with CSSR replacement items
• MFR Replacement items
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) item along with MFR replacement items 

Nepal Police 
• Regular MFR full Course items 
• Replacement items of CSSR equipment
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items along with CSSR replacement equipment
• MFR Replacement Equipment
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items along with MFR replacement equipment
Armed Police Force
• CSSR replacement items 
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items along with CSSR replacement items
• MFR Replacement items
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) item along with MFR replacement items
Nepal Red Cross Society
• Regular CADRE full course item
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) item along with CADRE full course item
• CADRE course replacement Item
• Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) item along with CADRE replacement equipment

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