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'Inevitable'
Himalayan earthquake will threaten the country
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Nepal's
Nature Earthquakes |
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Earthquake
Contingency Plan 2008
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Nepal
Red Cross Society (NRCS) has passed through series of landmarks and challenges
in its efforts to expand and grow into present structure since its inception.
NRCS currently is bthe largest humanitarian organizations in Nepal. It
has been tackling with multifarious humanitarian needs and challenges including
various forms of disaster, epidemics, sociopolitical conflicts, poverty,
health problems and multiple forms of sufferings through its wide spread
network. NRCS has its presence in all 75 districts of the country in the
form of district chapters and more than 1300 sub-chapters below district
level.
NRCS has demonstrated its tireless efforts in the years past in
streamlining expanding and strengthening its organization and service activities
throughout the country. NRCS has left no stones unturned in implementing
its programs and activities as guided by its Plans and strategies to reduce
vulnerability of individuals and communities through service delivery and
promotion of humanitarian values. Furthermore, NRCS is deeply involved
in Community development and resilience so that they may cope with all
sorts of disasters and human sufferings locally.
NRCS
has recently endorsed its Fifth Development Plan (2008-2010) as a continuous
strategic effort to reduce or alleviate human suffering. In compliance
with the RC fundamental principles and status of NRCS, the plan presents
our due commitment and thereby shares responsibility of reducing vulnerability.
Through the concepts and development plan approaches were adopted since
mid-seventies, comprehensive development planning started since early eighties
only in the form of first long term national development plan. Throughout
these years NRCS has strongly adhered to its commitments and solidarity
to International Red Cross Movement strategies so as to respond to global
human suffering caused by natural, human or technological disaster.
Nepal
is vulnerable to many types of natural and man made disasters causing serious
hazards to human life and property. In the past, Nepal has experienced
destructive earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, famines, drought, armed
conflict etc. The total loss of life recorded between 1983 and 2000 by
natural disasters has been 20,053. During destructive earthquakes and floods,
NRCS headquarters, chapters and sub-chapters have been involved in providing
health, education, and shelter support on a modest level.
NRCS has been
working in close coordination with the government as well as other humanitarian
organizations. It has been taking different preparedness initiatives at
organizational as well as community level by following its DM Policy, Disaster
Relief Manual and the DM Plan. Further to secure the regular response,
NRCS also have a separate corpus fund known as NRCS Princep Disaster relief
Fund and Emergency Disaster Response Fund.
Considering
above facts, Nepal Red Cross Society has undertaken disaster risk reduction
and response program as a core program. Considering the possible disasters,
mostly the probable earthquake in the Kathmandu valley, NRCS has prepared
a Contingency Plan (CP) to respond to the disaster situation efficiently
and effectively in the valley. Contingency Plan development process has
been initiated since 2006 in cooperation with South Asia Regional Delegation
of the IFRC.
The concerned volunteers as well as staff engaged in entire
process from the beginning of the process. The process was intensified
to develop CP for major earthquake in the Kathmandu valley in 2007. The
CP came into its final shape in 2008. The main thrust of the Contingency
Plan is to enhance the NRCS capacities in emergency preparedness and response
in Nepal so that they are better equipped and prepared to meet the needs
of the most vulnerable affected by earthquake. This present contingency
plan can be used to respond other kinds of disaster as well within and
beyond Kathmandu valley.
This plan is intended to provide response and
relief if such disasters (earthquake and others) occur in the Kathmandu
valley or beyond. Gradually it also intends to orient district chapters
on the Contingency Plan module concept to district chapters. The CP is
prepared in cooperation with and consultancy support from the IFRC, Nepal
office as well as South Asia Regional Delegation, Delhi.
The
Contingency Plan mainly consists of three parts:
1.
Background and context,
2.
Practical working guidelines (matrix format), and
3.
Annexes. It also analyses NRCS existing capacities and resources, coordination
mechanism, and continuation of the Contingency Plan itself. NRCS will also
integrate the basic components of its CP in every disaster preparedness
initiatives in future. Disaster Management Department will act as the focal
unit for the CP. At the same, a focal person has also been identified for
CP under the DM department to keep the Publication updated.
The
part one; deals with objectives, scope, and limitations of the plan; describes
the background and the geographical, social, economic, and policy framework
within which it was developed; outlines briefly the scenario which the
plan is intended to deal with giving estimates of the impact of the envisioned
disaster and setting out basic planning assumptions governing the response;
describes in form the RCRC resources and capacities available at the national,
regional, and global level to respond to such a disaster; outlines the
operational parameters governing the response; indicates how overall coordination
of the response would be achieved; and outlines to maintain the contingency
plan as an effective response tool.
The
Practical Working Guide is a guide deals on the measures which are essential
to be taken while preparing for a major earthquake in the Kathmandu Valley
and the vital actions which must be implemented in the emergency phase
of the response operation to be carried out by NRCS. In each instance the
necessary actions are set out in a matrix system, covering the following
areas:
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Coordination
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Continuity of operations
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Protection, safety, and security
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Information management, communications, and reporting
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Rescue, emergency medical assistance, and health services
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Relief
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Food and nutrition
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Shelter
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Water, sanitation, and hygiene
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Logistics and transport
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IT and telecommunications
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Finance and administration
Likewise,
the Annexes contain Publications and flow charts indicating lines of coordination
and information transmission in an emergency, Maps of Kathmandu Valley
showing the resources of NRCS. Contact details for key personnel in the
NRCS (NHQ's).
Overall
the Contingency Plan has been prepared considering the possible earthquake
scenario in the Kathmandu valley which, if occurred, is supposed to claim
a big loss of human life as well as loss of physical infrastructures. NRCS
believes that this CP equally helps partners to foster a collective response
in such a terrible scenario. NRCS will periodically update the Contingency
Plan and will also carry out simulation exercises time and again to test
the effectiveness of the Publication.
I
sincerely appreciate all hard works and contributions made by NRCS's volunteers
and staff to bring this Publication in this shape. I thank country office
as well as SARD office of IFRC for their substantial support and cooperation
in developing this Publication.
My
special thanks naturally goes to Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Kafley, Director, Disaster
Management Department and his team for their continuous efforts in order
to bring the Publication in present shape.
Finally,
I acknowledge and appreciate painstaking facilitation and sorts valuable
contributions made by Mr John Humphreys (the consultant) for his facilitation
to bring this Contingency Plan in this current form.
Dev
Ratna Dhakhwa
Secretary
General
| Source:
Nepal Red Cross Society, November 2008 |
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