Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 is the international post 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. It is a very concise, forward looking and action oriented document. It has also provided an opportunity to countries, communities and stakeholders for understanding national and local policies, strategies and practices on disaster risk reduction.

The framework has four priories for action

A.       Understanding Risk

B.      Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk

C.      Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience

D.      Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction

The document is useful for development workers, government officials, students, policy makers for their understanding and help to ensure Nepal’s Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives, polices, plans and activities are in line with  the framework.

For detail document, Please follow link below.

http://www.unisdr.org/files/43291_sendaiframeworkfordrren.pdf

Source: http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/43291

Impacts of Climate Change in Nepal

Nepal, a landlocked mountainous country, has less contribution to the total emission of Green House Gaseous (GHGs) however; the country is experiencing significant impacts of climate change.

National Adaptation Plan of Action prepared by Government of Nepal is a notable document that provides the deep insights of climate change scenarios in Nepal.

Nepal has experienced the change in the mean temperature and rainfall. The country except some pocket areas has become warmer. The data trends from 1975 to 2005 indicate 0.06 degree Celsius rise in the mean temperature and 3.75 mm per month per decade decrease in the rainfall. Under various climatic scenarios, the mean annual temperature is projected to increase between 1.3-3.8 by1960 where as rainfall is predicted to decrease by 10 to 20%.

Nepal’s water resources, agriculture, biodiversity are highly impacted by the increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall. Communities of Nepal are facing the shortage of water resources due to less recharge of aquifers, overexploitation of ground water. The ground water level has decreased 50 feet to 70 feet in some places of Narayani River basin of Nepal. The impact of such degradation leads to the higher impacts to substance type of agriculture system affecting the livelihood of vulnerable people. Such climatic trends combined with deforestation, erosion of soil are leading to landslides and flood hazards and therefore vulnerable communities will have to increase their adaptive capacity to cope with climatic hazards.

More than 80% of Nepal population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood where the significant change in the agricultural yield production was observed making more people vulnerable (Malla 2008). The increase in temperature has also increased risk of water-borne diseases due to poor sanitation and higher rainfall including increase in the risk of contamination (Source: Kelkar and Bhadwal 2007/2008).

The country has low emission by itself however, it lies between two giant industrial countries but facing greater challenge. Thus, the global effort is necessary to tackle the climate change so that global community works towards agreeing and implementing measures to keep the temperature below 1.5 Degree Celsius.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015

The slogan for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is announced " Knowledge for life".

 The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) launched a search for communities that demonstrate excellence in managing disaster risk in order to draw attention to the importance of local knowledge, traditions and customs in the struggle against extreme weather events, climate change and earthquakes. 

Margareta Wahlström, the head of UNISDR, said: “We want to identify and honour communities which exemplify the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk management. Over 19 million people from communities across the globe were newly displaced by disasters last year and we need to improve our understanding of how local practices can contribute to better management of disaster risk. 

“Under the campaign slogan, KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE, we are seeking nominations from governments, local governments and civil society organizations for communities which should be declared Champions of Disaster Risk Reduction for their efforts. The first communities to be designated Champions will be announced on International Day for Disaster Reduction, Tuesday, October 13, this year.” 

The newly adopted global agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, contains several references to the need for a strong focus on communities and indigenous peoples, their traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, in the design and implementation of policies, plans and standards for disaster risk management. Nominations and queries should be addressed to iddr2015@un.org by COB September 14, 2015.  Source:    http://www.unisdr.org/archive/45245

NEPAL and International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

In this scenario, Nepal is also celebrating the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction. Nepal should utilize the slogan to make government, CSOs, Community people understand gaps, challenges and learning during April Earthquake 2015 and able to prepare or design the plan for the resilient communities.

It is observed that the Duck, Cover, Hold is the best method in the world applied during the earthquake to make oneself protected but the use of such method was misunderstood or mis-transferred to Nepalese communities so that numbers of death cases are related due such knowledge. Some cases recorded from the Sindhuplachowk district of Nepal stated that many people standing outside the ground went inside the home for Duck, Cover and Hold  and none of them were alive after the collapse of the house. Most of the people stand under the pillar of the house to make them protected but the strength of Pillar was not studied and people died. Government, NGOs, INGOs including all stakeholders started to transfer the knowledge from the other country where the structure were safe  but the other factors like pillars, our topography and building structure were not considered while tranfering the knowledge.

Thus, I think Nepal government should focus Knowledge for life  slogan more effective to make realize on the proper  knowledge transfer and support for the resilience community.

 Rajan 

Karnali Update(3/3/2015, 2:00)

Kalikot

Due to heavy rainfall  on 1^st and 2^nd March 2015, three people ( two female, one male) died in Thirpu VDC in the collapse of the house yesterday.

      Humla 

           Police office of Muchu and Yanchu VDC provided the information that water level of Humla river deceased by 20% to 30% in the 7 am morning to CDO office of Humla.  The updated information states that the small river flowing from Limi that joins to Humla river was blocked and not the Humla Karnali river. As per the information provided by CDO, people of Halgi village have travelled to safe place themselves as people are in fear that the glacier lake above the Halgi village might have been blocked and may burst but till not confirmed. Till the time, the river flow from Limi side river has also been improved. 

   

      Information provided by KIRDARC Kalikot and KIRDARC Humla

 Promotion of Alliance for Disaster and Climate Resilience for resilience communities

Rajan Subedi, Youth Activist

Being the part of the development sector, it was realized that without the alliance of organizations working in the sector of climate change and disaster sector, it is difficult to work for the resilience communities. The resilience communities can be prepared if the alliance among the local NGOs working in the same sector lain for the advocacy of  the issue. The alliance was formed in districts of Karnali region i.e Kalikot, Humla and Mugu in 2014. 

As per the formation of the alliance, DRR and CCA advocacy plan was prepared in the district where as the Earthquake safety day was celebrated in each districts of Karnali region where Kalikot come up with fourteen point  commitment "Kalikot Karnali Kachahari Declaration" was agreed and signed by all participants. The major highlights of the declaration were the initiation to establish District Emergency Center,  prioritizing DRR during development planning, initiation to establish mountain suitable Early Warning System, ensuring earthquake safety infrastructures like house, schools, hospitals and offices through implementation of National Building Codes and  identification of Vulnerable zone for small scale mitigation etc.

The major learning after the formation are i) alliance and  mobilization with joint advocacy plan accelerates mainstreaming of DRR ii) Technical support and effective mobilization of alliance members helps to reinforce government capacity and support to make the government accountable. iii) A platform for dialogue for change is essential for the sharing of experiences with the stakeholders to bridge the gap among the policy makers and implementers at micro, macro and meso level in the issue  Dissemination of key learning/experiences through media help to aware the communities living in the dispersed areas with the limited resources. The major lacking was the experts groups to train them and link of with national level stakeholders.

To fulfill such gaps, a national level youth Network was formed in 2015 to link up with the district level network and provide the technical support to advocate on the issues of climate change and disaster. The national level youth Network "YADC Youth Alliance for Disaster and Climate Resilience"  initiated an idea  of youth march for climate justice with umbrella rally. More than 500 youth people participated in the program with an Umbrella.  Detail on: http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News/Article/KIRDAC-Youth-Rally-climate-change

The network was formed as the technical group to advocate on the issues of climate change through the evidence and provide technical expertise to district level groups. Alliance building is a idea of making change and advocating for the resilience community.
For detail contact: For Detail: http://kirdarc.org/index.php?pagename=detail&nid=60
rsubedi@kirdarc.org

Rara conference highlighting issues of climate change and disaster

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हिमाली क्षेत्रको नोक्सानी धनी देशबाट तिराउन माग

पिताम्बर सिग्देल/जीवन सेजुवाल 

रारा (मुगु) : हिमाली क्षेत्रमा जलवायु परिवर्तनले पारेको असरको क्षतिपूर्ति धनी देशले तिर्नुपर्ने माग गर्दै रारा तालको किनारमा बिहीबारदेखि सुरु जलवायु परिवर्तनसम्बन्धी रारा सम्मेलन शुक्रबार सकिएको छ। 

जलवायु परिवर्तनका कारण हिमाली क्षेत्रका बासिन्दाले भोगेका समस्या, खाद्यान्न र अन्य उत्पादनमा भएको ह्रास तथा प्राकृतिक प्रकोपको क्षतिपूर्ति हरितगृह ग्यास उत्सर्जन गर्ने विकसित देशलाई तिराउनुपर्ने आवाज सम्मेलनमा उठेको हो। 

जलवायु परिवर्तनकै कारण एक साताअघि मुगुका विभिन्न गाउँमा थन्क्याउन ठिक्क पारिएको अन्नबाली असिनाले क्षति पुर्‍याएको निष्कर्ष निकाल्दै हानिनोक्सानी (लस एन्ड ड्यामेज) को पूर्तिसम्बन्धी अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय व्यवस्था (सम्झौता) छिटो गर्न पनि सम्मेलनले माग गरेको छ। 

विश्वका विकसित देशले उत्सर्जन गरेको हरितगृह ग्यासका कारण नेपालजस्ता अति कम विकसित देशले ठूलो क्षति र असर बेहोरिरहेका छन्। विश्वमा उत्सर्जन हुने ग्यासको ०.०२५ प्रतिशत मात्रै नेपालले उत्सर्जन गर्छ। 'नेपालको हिमाली क्षेत्र जलवायु परिवर्तनको सबैभन्दा धेरै र गम्भीर असर भोग्ने क्षेत्र हो', विज्ञान प्रविधि तथा वातावरण मन्त्रालयको जलवायु परिवर्तन सहयोग कार्यक्रमका संयोजक नरेश शर्माले भने। नोपालको कुल भूभागको ७७ प्रतिशत उच्च पहाड र हिमाली क्षेत्रले ओगटेको छ। 

विज्ञान प्रविधि तथा वातावरण मन्त्रालय र कर्णाली एकीकृत ग्रामीण अनुसन्धान विकास केन्द्र (किर्डाक) नेपालको आयोजनामा भएको सम्मेलनले नौबुँदे घोषणापत्र जारी गर्दै कर्णाली क्षेत्रलाई सांस्कृतिक, धार्मिक तथा प्राकृतिक पर्यटकीय क्षेत्रका रूपमा विकास गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता पनि व्यक्त गरेको छ। सरकारी, गैरसरकारी संघसंस्था र नागरिक समाजका एक सय ५० भन्दा बढी व्यक्ति सहभागी सम्मेलनले जलवायु परिवर्तनसँग लड्न हिमाली क्षेत्रका लागि विशेष कार्यक्रमको माग पनि गरेको छ। सम्मेलनमा जलवायु परिवर्तनले हिमाली क्षेत्र र यहाँका बासिन्दालाई पारेको असरबारे १६ वटा कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गरिएको थियो। 

राराकिनारमा सार्वजनिक गरिएको घोषणापत्रमा हिमाली क्षेत्रका बासिन्दाका लागि सरकारले विशेष योजनासहित जलवायु परिवर्तनसँग लड्ने कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गर्न माग गरिएको छ। कर्णालीलगायत हिमाली क्षेत्रका बासिन्दा सधैं राष्ट्रिय प्राथमिकता र अवसरभन्दा बाहिर रहेको निष्कर्ष निकाल्दै सीमान्तकृत समुदायका लागि विशेष कार्यक्रमको खाँचो औंल्याइएको छ। 

आयोजक संस्थाका कार्यकारीनिर्देशक मीनबहादुर शाहीले जलवायु परिवर्तनले हिमाली क्षेत्रको जनजीवनमा पारेको असर र प्रभावका विषयमा विश्वको ध्यानाकर्षण गराउन सम्मेलन सफल भएको बताए। सरकारी तथा गैरसरकारी संस्थाको आर्थिक सहायतासम्बन्धी संरचना बदल्नुपर्ने माग पनि सम्मेलनले गरेको छ। जलवायु परिवर्तनसम्बन्धी अधिकांश बजेट काठमाडौंमा खर्च हुने तर कर्णालीजस्ता विकट अन्य हिमाली जिल्लामा ढिलो र सीमित बजेटमात्र आइपुग्ने संरचना बदल्न पनि माग गरिएको छ। ६० देखि ८० प्रतिशत बजेट स्थानीय स्तरमा पुराउने प्रतिबद्धता पनि सरकार तथा सरोकारवालासँग मागिएको छ। हिमली जनताका लागि सरकारी र गैरसरकारी निकायको आर्थिक सहायताका लागि छुट्टै संयन्त्र बनाउनुपर्ने माग पनि गरिएको छ। 

हिमाली जिल्लाको आर्थिक तथा सामाजिक विकासका लागि जलविद्युत्, सौर्य ऊर्जा, वायु ऊर्जा, अर्गानिक कृषि खेती, पशुपालन र दिगो पर्यटनलाई प्राथमिकता दिनुपर्ने निष्कर्ष निकालिएको छ। भौगोलिक विकाससँगै आर्थिक र सामाजिक उन्नतिका विकल्पमाथि छलफल गर्दै ऊर्जा, पर्यटन तथा सडक सञ्जालको विस्तारमा बजेट खर्च गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता सरकारसँग मागिएको छ। 

सम्मेलनले कर्णाली क्षेत्रमा जलवायु परिवर्तनले पारेको असरको अध्ययन तथा विश्लेषण गर्न छुट्टै अनुसन्धान केन्द्र बनाउने प्रतिबद्धता पनि व्यक्त गरेको छ। कर्णालीका रारा, जुम्ला, खप्तड र दुल्लुलाई सांस्कृतिक, धार्मिक तथा प्राकृतिक पर्यटन क्षेत्रका रूपमा विकास गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता पनि व्यक्त गरिएको छ। सरकारले दिगो प र्यटन गुरुयोजना बनाएर रारालाई सिँजा र दुल्लुसँग जोड्दै सांस्कृतिक सहरका रूपमा जुम्ला खलंगा, बढीमालिकादेखि अन्य धार्मिक स्थललाई विकास गर्न पनि आह्वान गरिएको छ। डोल्पा, हुम्ला, खप्तडलगायत पर्यटकीय क्षेत्रमा लगानी बढाउँदै विकास गर्नुपर्ने माग सम्मेलनको छ। त्यस्तै सम्मेलनले हिमाली जिल्लाको सहभागितामा हिमाली मुद्दा उठाउन छुट्टै संयन्त्र बनाउने निर्णय पनि गरेको छ।