'Two million people likely to be affected by monsoon-induced disaster this year'

KATHMANDU: The monsoon is not far away with the onset of the pre-monsoon this year. At least two million people across 450,000 households are likely to be affected by this year’s monsoon.

The forecast has been drawn up in the proposed Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan, 2082 BS, which was prepared by analysing all the relevant factors based on data from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).

Ram Bahadur KC, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), said the action plan was charted out with the estimation that 10% of those affected might require rescue and relief.

"We have estimated that around two million people would be affected in the imminent monsoon. All provinces of the country would be affected so sector-wide responsibilities have been delegated for preparedness," he said.

He added that the national action plan will be presented at the meeting of the NDRRMA executive committee to be held on May 28 under the chairmanship of the Home Minister, and that it would come into effect after endorsement at the meeting.

KC further informed that the proposed action plan has set out the measures, including monthly monitoring, evaluation and review of the disaster.

Earlier, weather forecasts were made public in Nepal. According to forecasts unveiled by the Department of Meteorology, extreme rainfall with lower minimum and higher maximum temperatures is expected.

Based on these forecasts, the NDRRMA has prepared the disaster response national action plan in line with recommendations from stakeholders and organisations.

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