Kathmandu, Dec 8: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that the documents prepared by the National Reconstruction Authority will serve as a source of knowledge in disaster risk reduction.
Addressing the inaugural function of the International Conference organized here Wednesday to inform the international community about the experience and learning gained by Nepal during the post-earthquake reconstruction, President Bhandari called for building a disaster-free country based on success, learning and experience.
On the occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka expressed confidence that the reconstruction work would be sustainable as it is owned by the community. He said that the results have been achieved by giving priority to the reconstruction of schools, health institutions and cultural heritage.
Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the post-earthquake reconstruction was 90 percent complete, adding that construction technology and capacity had also increased. He also shared that the responsibility has been handed over to the Ministry of Urban Development to complete the reconstruction of private houses damaged by the earthquake this year.
In an audio-visual message, Indian Minister for External Affairs S Jayashankar said India had helped rebuild 28 cultural heritages damaged by the earthquake and also provided assistance in the reconstruction of school buildings, health institutions and libraries.
In a similar audio-visual message, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China has been with Nepal since the time of rescue and relief immediately after the earthquake, adding that reconstruction assistance has been provided.
Representatives of development partners, including Japan’s Deputy Minister for Parliamentary and Foreign Affairs and Honda Taro, Asian Development Bank Vice President Sijin Chen, and EU Commissioner for Disaster Management Janez Lenarkil lauded post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal.
Some 700 delegates from different countries of the world participated in the conference through zoom, according to Secretary of Nepal Reconstruction Authority Sushil Chandra Tiwari. The conference organized under the slogan ‘From Reconstruction to Resilience’ will have 20 different sessions.
The conference is believed to help achieve the goal of establishing Nepal as a disaster risk-free country by 2030. The NRA, which is about to end its six-year term at the end of this month, has handed over the remaining reconstruction work to the line ministries.
