Regional unity vital for disaster and humanitarian crisis response: Home Minister Lekhak

August 19, Kathmandu: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak today stressed the need for regional unity and shared solutions to tackle disasters and humanitarian crises.

Speaking at the Nepal Humanitarian Summit 2025 in Kathmandu, held on World Humanitarian Day under the theme “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities,” the summit highlighted Nepal’s ongoing battle with natural disasters and climate challenges.“

Nepal faces frequent earthquakes, floods, landslides, and droughts, worsened by climate change and inequality,” Minister Lekhak said, noting the country’s complex geography amplifies these risks. He praised local governments, communities, and volunteers as the first responders, citing their critical role during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

“Nepalis show remarkable compassion in times of crisis, and our humanitarian efforts continue to grow,” Lekhak emphasised that Nepal’s constitution assigns local governments primary responsibility for disaster management. To support this, the government has established local disaster management committees, emergency operation centres, warehouses, volunteer training, and dedicated funds.

“We prioritise local leadership in preparedness, risk reduction, and reconstruction,” he said. The minister called for sustainable financial systems to address growing challenges, urging investment in local capacity, volunteer management, and governance. He advocated for documenting and sharing regional and global best practices to inspire transformative change.

The government is also scaling up investments in community resilience and providing grants of Rs 350,000 to Rs 550,000 for temporary and permanent housing for disaster-affected citizens. Minister Lekhak reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to collaborating with development partners, international organisations, and NGOs to build a robust humanitarian framework for future challenges. The summit aims to produce actionable outcomes to strengthen local leadership and foster equitable partnerships.