Publication Ref. T0016

All modern-day armed conflicts have left behind problems of explosive remnants of war (ERW), usually for years or even decades after the conflict ended. Nepal is no exception and during the decade-long conflict the parties to the conflict used improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines and other types of explosive devices. Due to the nature of the conflict, explosive ordnance contamination was widespread and has affected many different districts in all five regions of the country.

Introduction

This report reviews Nepal’s legal and policy framework for disaster response with a focus on large-scale emergencies that exceed national coping capacities. It analyses Nepal’s legal preparedness for disasters by assessing its legal framework against key international standards.

The study aims to:

• Identify gaps and areas of good practice in addressing legal issues and implementing the key regional and international instruments relevant to disasters in Nepal.

2011: International Year of Volunteers

Youth volunteers under the spotlight

Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) celebrated International Volunteers'
Day (December 5) with various programmes and activities across the country, under the slogan "FIND VOLUNTEER INSIDE YOU." The organization organized art competition among school children, essay and poem competitions among NRCS youth volunteers in the capital city, Kathmandu and similar activities across the country.

The 1996-2006 conflict in Nepal brought tragedy for many families: over a thousand families still do not know what happened to a relative. International humanitarian law requires authorities to account for people who go missing, and to give families all the information they have on their fate and whereabouts. The ICRC and the Nepal Red Cross Society maintain contact with the families of missing persons across Nepal and encourage the former parties to the conflict to clarify the fate of those who remain unaccounted for.

Nirmal Adhikari
Kathmandu, 3 July 2011

You are in early thirties. You head your family. You have never heard about safety. Your young children and loving wife do not know what to do when there are threats to life caused by disasters. You feel a series of quakes shaking your whole house and making you feel that it may crash down any time. You cannot leave your house with a fear that valuable goods may get stolen in your absence. At the same time, you feel your life is at risk of the disaster. You are in a dilemma- saving life or saving property.

(extract)

DC communications capacity strengthened

Nepal lies between India and China, the giant economically growing countries in the world. Although there are immense opportunities for development, Nepal is still recorded as one of the least developed countries in the globe. It is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture and religions. Following the comprehensive peace process, Nepal has been witnessing rapid changes in social and political sectors. The state is going through the constitution making process. It is expected to restructure socio-politico power structure that prevailed

Kathmandu

Hasta Lal Pun Magar, 40, of Kotgaun- 8, Rolpa, has now a toilet, a washing platform, a utensil drying stand and garbage pit in his home. He produces vegetables in his own kitchen garden. His family now uses toilet regularly and wash their hands with soap water after toilets and before every meal. "I would like to thank the Red Cross for developing my awareness about the importance of personal hygiene and assisting me to construct sanitary units at home," he shared in the annual review and planning workshop.

Kathmandu, 15 December 2009

Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), Communication and Humanitarian Values Department organized a Communications and Media Relations Training to build up communication capacity in the disaster prone areas and strengthen the network of emergency communication. The training, a part in the implementation of the Communication Strategy 2008-2010, was held in Ilam from 7-8 December, 2009.

The participants during the two day training were oriented on disaster management policy, communication policy and strategy,